Esther was the youngest of six children with exception of twin boys who died as infants. Her parents divorced and at some time after her mother and other children moved to Milwaukee. Her mother died in Milwaukee in 1912 while she was still in high school. He older brothers took care of her until she started nursing school at Columbia Hospital in Milwaukee.

At some time she either worked or volunteered at a Settlement House. She also worked at Solders Home (now the VA Hospital) either during and or after WW I. She met her future husband when they both worked for A. O. Smith Co. She had a daughter Lucy and a son John and was asked to return to nursing during WW II, She did special duty night nursing during the war and after until shortly before her death.

Esther was the youngest of six children with exception of twin boys who died as infants. Her parents divorced and at some time after her mother and other children moved to Milwaukee. Her mother died in Milwaukee in 1912 while she was still in high school. He older brothers took care of her until she started nursing school at Columbia Hospital in Milwaukee.

At some time she either worked or volunteered at a Settlement House. She also worked at Solders Home (now the VA Hospital) either during and or after WW I. She met her future husband when they both worked for A. O. Smith Co. She had a daughter Lucy and a son John and was asked to return to nursing during WW II, She did special duty night nursing during the war and after until shortly before her death.