Obit: Dudra, Estelle (1909 - 2005)

Contact:  Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
Email: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Dudra, Teclaw, Larson, Barrett, Ogurek, Zdrojkowski, Milewski Landwehr

----Sources: Thorp Courier (Thorp, WI.) July 13, 2005

Dudra, Estelle (January 12, 1909 - July 7, 2005)

Estelle Larson Dudra, age 95, of Aberdeen, Washington, formerly of Thorp, died July 7, 2005. Graveside services were held at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 13, 2005 at Riverside Cemetery, Withee. Reverend Robert Everhard officiated. Maurina/Community Funeral Home assisted the family.

Estelle was born January 12, 1909 on a dairy farm near Thorp to Stanley and Mary Teclaw. In her mid teens she went to Chicago to work in order to keep the farm going and to help with taxes. She met Eric Larson and after a few years they returned to Wisconsin to farm. Estelle and Eric had four children, but only two survived childbirth. Eric later became injured and died of complications. Having two small children Estelle found it difficult to run the farm, and returned to Chicago where she opened a small restaurant. She missed Wisconsin and sold her business and returned to Thorp where she opened a tavern. While running the business she met and married Rolland Barrett. They moved to Washington where he was employed at a large construction firm. He died in 1963. Estelle became the financial secretary of Polish National Insurance Company. Estelle met Joe Dudra, also a native of Thorp, and they enjoyed many years together. He died two years ago.

She is survived by her children: Harold and Sharon and her grandchildren.

Estelle was preceded in death by her parents, her three husbands, two children, and her brothers and sisters: Sophie Ogurek, Magdeline Zdrojkowski, Vincent Teclaw, Joe Teclaw, Mike Teclaw, Ed Teclaw, Jeanette Milewski and Theresa Landwehr.