Obituaries

Remembering a Woman Who Loved History, Sausage and Elves

The Usinger Elves, walking the streets of Milwaukee.
The Usinger Elves, walking the streets of Milwaukee. Photo: courtesy Usinger’s

Deb Usinger died last weekend at 58. If you recognize the last name, you can guess exactly who she was; if you don’t, you need to make a trip to Milwaukee, where her family’s 130-year-old business, Usinger’s Sausage Co., still has a storefront on Old World 3rd street decorated with century-old murals of German elves dishing up big plates of cured meats. A fourth-generation Usinger, she took a particular interest in the family’s history, helping to ensure the survival of the vintage building where the company still makes its sausage and, beyond that, of the historic district on 3rd street which is also home to other old German businesses like Mader’s Restaurant. She also oversaw marketing for the company, producing its annual catalog of sausage-based holiday gifts and arranging, in her unofficial role as “VP of Fun,” for appearances by the Usinger Elves at local events. [Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel]

Remembering a Woman Who Loved History, Sausage and Elves