On the evening of December 12, 2022, while the world slept, Phyllis (Anhalt Schamburek) Uhrich quietly passed away. Her big brother Bill had passed away earlier that afternoon. We are certain he stopped and waited for his little sister so they could enter heaven together. For the past 18 months, Phyllis was lovingly cared for and lived with her daughter Ann, and her family, in Reeds Spring, Missouri. Born March 5, 1934, Phyllis Mae Anhalt, one of 14 children, was delivered at home by Dr. Simonson, to the late Joseph and Mathilda Anhalt of Clarks Mills, Wisconsin. She graduated with high honors, and with some of her best friends, as Homecoming Queen from Valders High School.

On June 11, 1955, Phyllis married Paul R. Schamburek, the father of their five children, Barbara, Scott, Mary, Ann, and Kelly.

She married Robert (Bob) Uhrich on May 4, 1979. Through her marriage to Bob, Phyllis became step-mom to Linda, Debbie, Mike, and Dave. While wholeheartedly loving and supporting her children, her pride and joy in this life were her grandchildren and great-grandson. Each one held a special place in her heart. Seeing them, hearing from them, or just knowing what they had been up to, put a smile on her face and a spring in her step. Every visit, phone call, and text message was a treasure to her. Phyllis was a "Jill" of all trades - and she mastered them all! Looking out for others and helping wherever able was at the heart of all she did.

While still on the family farm, she was her dad's favorite helper. Her dad, Joe, nicknamed her "Beef," much to the dismay of her mom, Tilly, because she was strong and worked hard "like a boy". She always wanted to do better than her best. A "helper" to her core, Phyllis volunteered with numerous organizations throughout her life. She traveled with the Red Cross to flood damaged states. She was involved in the local 1960s & 1970s Civil Rights Movement and coordinated a visit and a presentation to local Manitowoc high school students by Civil Rights Leader, Fr. John Grappi. Phyllis was the definition of a Servant Leader through her passion for serving the underserved and advocating for inclusion. Phyllis worked with the Hispanic community of Manitowoc County to assist with improvements aimed at making the "migrant camps" more sustainable and safer for the many families who lived there. To the resistance of the company employing the migratory workers, Phyllis advocated - and won - to have a pay phone installed in the camp as well as other improvements. Phyllis's career path often converged with her interests, the needs of her family, and her passion for helping others.

Right out of high school she obtained a job with Manitowoc County at the Courthouse and later at the Manitowoc County Mental Health Center. Phyllis obtained her CNA license and worked for a brief time at the Manitowoc County Hospital. In the early 1980s she was asked to join the staff at Cambridge House in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and eventually was asked to join the staff at the Bay Psychiatric Clinic in Green Bay, Wisconsin. While driving back and forth from her job in Green Bay to her home in Manitowoc, Phyllis decided that becoming a realtor would be better for her family life. Yet another challenge to conquer while helping others find their "forever" home. At the tender age of 50+, she obtained her Realtor License. Through her real estate connections, Phyllis was able to make another dream come true. Partnering with her daughter, Barbara, together they opened a small café, "A La Carte'". Hard work, long hours, great food, and delicious desserts proved the winning combination for a successful business. Prior to the café's closing, Phyllis found there was a need for paraprofessionals in the elementary schools of Manitowoc. Again, Phyllis saw a need and filled it. While working for the Manitowoc Public School District, she became a Union Representative, garnering a Lifetime Achievement Award on December 6, 2010.

In her 70s, Phyllis was still actively leading protests on the steps of the Wisconsin State Capitol Building to draw much-needed attention to the work of teachers, paraprofessionals, the state of the education system, and the needs and rights of her students. Phyllis worked tirelessly, giving all she had, to the children at "her" school. She loved every minute with them, finally retiring when she was 83 years old. Phyllis was often happiest and the most fulfilled while sharing the beauty of nature with her family and friends, digging in the dirt, enjoying her yard full of daffodils and porch full of potted geraniums, and emphasizing that if you liked the plant, who cared if it was "technically" a weed. Her love of a pure blue sky and the joy she received from simply sitting with a loved one on a warm, sunny day is a lesson to us all. That, and that Vicks fixes everything except a broken bone or a broken heart. And even then, it helps. Phyllis never met a stranger that stayed a stranger for long. She picked up stranded folks from the side of the road with broken cars, took them home, fed and lodged them, and asked for nothing in return. These families continued to send birthday cards, Christmas cards, graduation announcements, and letters of thanks for her random acts of kindness.

Feeding others with giant meals, teaching folks how to make their favorite dishes, and sending them home with enough leftovers for a week taught her growing family the lesson to build a bigger table, to share what you have, and to revel in the joy of learning from - and loving - others. A beautiful message from one of Barbara's childhood friends states that, "your mom was a very special lady … giving and kind to everyone. She had a heart that embraced those less fortunate or struggling [and she was] always kind and had that soft comforting smile ... She was admired by everyone."

Phyllis is survived by children & grandchildren, Barbara (Peter) Pamperin with Taylor Rose Pamperin (Christopher Maury), Scott (Lisa) Schamburek, with Ben (great-grandson Ethan), Emily, Andy & Maddie. Ann (Doug) Tschetter, with Josiah & Channa, and Kelly (Roger) Ahlswede; step-children, Linda Uhrich, Debbie Karle, Mike (Mary) Uhrich, and Dave (Cathy) Uhrich; three sisters, MaryAnn Wotruba, Rose Scanlon, and Colleen (Roger) Brunner; one brother, David (Shirley) Anhalt; and numerous beloved family and friends.

Phyllis is predeceased by her former husband, Paul Schamburek, as well as husband, Bob Uhrich, daughter, Mary, and cherished parents, brothers, sisters, in-laws, family, and friends. She will be greatly missed … but don't worry, everything will be fine. A private memorial service will be held at a later date.

Posted online on January 10, 2023

Published in Herald Times Reporter