Christine Mary Breene

On November 7, 2019, Christine Mary Breene finished her journey after a full life devoted to faith, family, music, and nature. Born in Fort Atkinson on September 12, 1943, Chris grew up in Antigo, where she took violin lessons and became deeply involved in the Lutheran church. As an officer of the Wisconsin chapter of the Luther League, she participated in summer work camps and took a memorable trip to San Francisco as a delegate to the national convention. After graduating from Antigo High School, Chris attended Suomi College in Hancock, Michigan. Alongside her studies, she enjoyed outings to Lake Superior and developed a lifelong love for Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. After two years at Suomi, Chris transferred to Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minnesota. She sang in the choir and completed a degree in social work.

Following college, Chris accepted a position as a social worker in Shawano. In her spare time, she played violin in the Green Bay Symphony Orchestra. While working at the Shawano County Courthouse Chris met James Breene, who asked her to attend a Christmas dance. Courtship ensued, and Chris and Jim were wed in 1973, the beginning of a long and happy marriage. They lived briefly in Wausau before settling for 23 years in Waupaca, where Jim was county supervisor for the Farmers Home Administration. Although Chris stopped working full time to raise her family, she continued serving as a legal guardian for residents of Lakeview Manor Nursing Home. She also dedicated herself to the violin and took lessons through the Suzuki Center at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. She shared this love of music with her children as a “Suzuki Mom” by attending lessons, group classes, weekend playing marathons, summer institutes, and state competitions. In 1987, she took her family to Berlin, Germany, for the Eighth International Suzuki Conference. As a result of this upbringing, Chris’s children later pursued successful musical careers: Sam is a music professor in Rhode Island and Erin is a professional cellist in California.

Besides music, Chris’s other passion was the great outdoors. One of her favorite places was a rustic family cottage on Tamarack Lake in the Upper Peninsula. She spent many happy days fishing for crappies and bluegills, picking wild blueberries along the backroads, and hiking to hidden waterfalls. After retiring to Adams County in 2000, Chris devoted herself to gardening with Jim on the Breene family farm. She ran a vegetable stand for a number of years on Highway 13 and was known to give a friendly wave to passersby. Customers drove down for Chris and Jim’s renowned tomatoes, potatoes, pumpkins, and zucchini. Chris also cultivated beautiful flower gardens around her home. She surrounded herself with nature’s bounty, which she shared generously with others.

Chris is preceded in death by her father and mother, Donald and Virginia Larsen, and a brother, Lars Peter Larsen. She is survived by her husband, Jim, and her children, Sam and Erin, as well as her beloved cats. As a volunteer with Faith in Action and other local organizations, Chris touched many lives through her boundless warmth, generosity, and kindness. In lieu of flowers, please honor her with donations to the Adams County Humane Society or the “Chris Breene Memorial Fund” through the American Suzuki Foundation.

A memorial service will be held at Arkdale Trinity Lutheran Church on Saturday, November 30. Pastor Terri Skildum will officiate. Visitation will be at 11:00 a.m. until the time of the service at 1:00 p.m. A luncheon will follow. Roseberry’s Funeral Home in Friendship is assisting the family. Please visit www.roseberrys.com for online condolences.