Obit: Zahradka, Anna Marie #2 (1904 - 2006)
Contact:  Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon

Surnames: Zahradka, Schultz, Bladl, Giasson, Eibergen, Flanegan, Wunsch, Feyen, Zielinski, Bray, Green

----Sources: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark County, Wis.) September 13, 2006

Zahradka, Anna Marie (October 19, 1904 - September 10, 2006)

Anna Zahradka, age 101, of Granton, died Sunday, September 10, 2006 at the Marshfield Care Center in Marshfield.

Anna Marie (Bladl) Zahradka was born on October 19, 1904 to Charles T. and Frances (Schultz) Bladl in the township of Lynn in Clark County. She was educated in rural schools until the 8th grade. She went to live with an Aunt in Hokah, MN and she graduated from St. Mary’s Catholic High School in Hokah. After graduation she worked as a cashier at Sears in Chicago. She returned to Granton and helped her folks with Bladl’s Tavern and Hotel which they had bought in 1917.

Anna married Michael G. Zahradka on June 20, 1928 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Neillsville, Wis. They belonged to St. Mary’s where Anna was a member of St. Cecelia’s Circle of the PCCW. The past May she was the oldest member to be presented a Senior Honoree award from St. Mary’s Council of Catholic Women for service. After marriage they lived in Granton and built their home in 1933 where Anna lived until age 95. In November of 1999 she moved to Guiding Hand Adult Assisted Living Home in Marshfield. In July of 2006 she entered the Marshfield Care center. Her husband, Michael passed away on Jan. 30, 1957 at the age of 57. They had six children.

She worked many years as a telephone operator in Granton and she also wrapped cheese for Cooper Cheese and Figi’s in Marshfield. She did much traveling all over the U.S., Canada and Mexico. With her sister, Katherine, she took a trip to England, Scotland and Paris, France. She was a very talented seamstress from Barbie doll clothes to formal wear. She crocheted many Afghans and did tatting. She enjoyed cooking and baking, playing bridge and never liked to miss Senior Citizens at Granton. In 1985, she was chosen as Granton’s Grandparent of the year and rode in the Fall Festival parade. Her 100th birthday was celebrated with a family reunion.

There were 18 Presidents of the U. S. in her life starting with the 26th President, Theodore Roosevelt who served from 1901-09.

Anna is survived by her children, Mary Ann (Donald) Giasson, of Denison, TX; Betty Eibergen, of Granton; Carolyn (Edward) Flanegan, of Hampton, MN; Michael W. (Vicki) Zahradka, of Corning, NY; Rosa Lee (James) Wunsch, of Sheboygan Falls, WI; and a son-in-law, Michael Feyen, of Kiel, WI; 33 grandchildren; 55 great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren and another expected in December. She is further survived by a sister-in-law, Irene Zielinski, of Owen and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Michael; a sister, Katherine Bray, of Pasadena, CA; brothers, Carl of Granton, and Paul, of Owen; a daughter, Barbara Feyen, of Sheboygan; son-in-law, Richard Eibergen, of Granton; a granddaughter, Gwen Eibergen, of Granton; and great-granddaughter, Emily Green, of Denison, TX.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, September 14, 2006 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Neillsville, Wis. The celebrant will be The Very Reverend Woodrow H. Pace. Providing music will be Ronald Resong, organist, Rita Kuchenbecker, soloist and St. Mary’s Choir. Visitation will be held from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, September 14 at the church before the service. Interment will be in St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery in Neillsville, Wis.

Casket bearers will be her grandchildren.

The Gesche Funeral Home of Neillsville is assisting Anna’s family with funeral arrangements.