Obit: Zank, Elsie Viola (1912 - 2006)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon

Surnames: Zank, Sukow, Karl, Schall, Walker, Younger

----Sources: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark County, WI) February 22, 2006

Zank, Elsie Viola (July 2, 1912 - February 17, 2006)

Elsie Zank, age 93, of Neillsville, died Friday, February 17, 2006 at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Marshfield.

Elsie Viola Zank was born on July 2, 1912 in Neillsville, the daughter of Emil and Leona (Sukow) Zank. She attended Silver Crest School and graduated from Neillsville High School. After graduation she went on to school in Oshkosh, Eau Claire and Whitewater, WI earning a degree in teaching. Elsie taught in the country schools around here for the first few years, and then in the 1950’s she began teaching in Fall Creek and later in Alma Center, where she would retire.

Teaching was truly Elsie’s calling, as she loved children. Some will remember Elsie for her teaching skills, and some have come to know her because of her regular attendance at church. Elsie will be remembered by her family for her generous and caring ways, love of animals and her ability to notice the small but most important things in life. Some of her favorite hobbies were reading, baking, crocheting and sewing.

She was a member of the Pine Valley Zion Lutheran Church near Neillsville, Wis.

Elsie is survived by two sisters, Clara Karl, of Neillsville, and Gladys Schall, of Illinois. Elsie is also survived by five nieces and nephews; Karen Schall Washington, IL; Deborah (Michael) Walker Franklin, MA; Melanie (Don) Younger of Eureka, IL; Milan ‘Mike’ (Mary) Karl of Chili; and Ivan (Julie) Karl of Neillsville; seven loving grand nieces and one grand nephew.

Elsie was preceded in death by her parents, Emil and Leona Zank.

Funeral services for Elsie will be held at 11 a.m., Wednesday, February 22, at the Pine Valley Zion Lutheran Church in Neillsville, Wis. Pastor Keith Lueneburg will officiate. Music will be provided by Virginia Karnitz, organist. Interment will be in the Neillsville City Cemetery. Visitation will be from 10 until 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Church.

Casket Bearers are: Dave Steiger, Tim Kopp, Ron Zank, Ivan Karl, Mike Karl and Dennis Sischo.

The Gesche Funeral Home is assisting Elsie’s family with the funeral arrangements.