Esther A. Safford, of the Town of Wescott, passed away Sunday, August 4, 2013, at the age of 91. Esther was born on September 22, 1921 in Oconto Falls, the oldest of four children born to Wm. J. Kallies and Augusta Redmann. She is preceded in death by one sister, Bertha Kallies who died at two months, and by her two brothers, August and Albert Kallies. She is also preceded in death by her first husband, Alfred "Fritz" Pludeman who died on June 21, 1946, the second recorded death from Leukemia in Shawano County. Esther was confirmed at St. Paul Lutheran Church-Stony Hill in the Town of Richmond. She worked a number of jobs as a young woman, and retired from the telephone company, Frontier Communications, Clintonville, in May of 1987 after 40 years of service. Esther was a member of St. James Lutheran Church, Shawano since 1940. She was an active member of the Tabitha Society, working to prepare luncheons for many funeral services. She was a member of the local VFW Ladies Auxiliary Post #2725. On May 22, 1948 Esther married Roger C. Safford. The couple enjoyed 58 years together; gardening, reading, feeding the songbirds, and watching life on the lake. Esther was an excellent cook. Her natural curiosity and interest in life were rare. She and Roger looked out for one another until Roger's death on October 28, 2006. Esther grieved the loss until the end of her life. Esther found comfort and a special closeness in her nephew, Rev. Bruce Kallies of Rochester, MN. He was like a son. She was also fond of his siblings, Joan Kallies of Victoria, British Columbia who reminded her of her mother, Susan Kallies of Seattle, WA who remained her Little Squirt, Vickie Kallies of Maryville, TN, Steven Kallies of Oshkosh and Bryan Kallies who preceded her in death. Esther will be missed by her many, many close friends and her family. The kindness of others filled Esther's last years with deep gratitude. Funeral services will be held at 11:00am on Thursday, August 8, 2013 at the St. James Lutheran Church in Shawano with the Rev. Ted Andrada officiating. Burial will be in the Woodlawn Cemetery in Shawano. Visitation will be held at the church on Thursday from 9:30am until the time of the service. In lieu of other expressions of sympathy, memorials can be made to St. James Lutheran Church or the Tabitha Society of St. James. The family would like to thank the entire staff at Birch Hill Care Center. Esther had many favorites and she greeted their next time on duty with her genuine smile. www.swedbergfuneralhome.com