Surnames: Earle, Fosdick, Hutchinson, Kaiser, Kocian, Kruse, Kunze, Lang, Mitchell, Pest, Peterson, Rates, Redmann, Scanlon, Schmitt, Schindler, Schneider, Talcot, Zera

----Source: The Tribune - Phonograph (Abbotsford, Clark Co., WI), Wednesday, October 22, 2008, Vol. 48, No. 43, page 21

Kocian, Maude M. (Schmitt) (July 20, 1919 - October 16, 2008)

Maude M. Kocian, 89, Abbotsford, passed away Thursday, October 16, 2008 in the Palliative Care Unit at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Marshfield surrounded by her loving children and grandchildren.

Maude was born July 20, 1919 in the town of Hull in Marathon County to Alphonse and Gertrude (Kaiser) Schmitt. She attended Riverside Country School and graduated from the 8th grade. Following her schooling she moved to Chicago and began working as a nanny.

In Chicago, she married Elmer R. Kocian on February 22, 1941.

Later Maude and Elmer returned to Abbotsford for a short time. Then in 1945 they purchased a farm in the town of Hull where they both farmed until their retirement from farming in 1977. After moving back to Abbotsford, Maude and Elmer did part time custodial work at what is now known as Mid-Wisconsin Bank in Abbotsford, Wis. They were inseparable.

Her husband Elmer passed away in 1995. At the great age of 77 years old Maude thought it was time to get a driver’s license, so she did. Work was important to Maude and she continued that work ethic up to her retirement from the Tribune-Phonograph in Abbotsford, Wis.

She loved her sewing and quilting as well as her flowers and gardening. She was known to enjoy a Brewer Baseball game on the radio.

She is survived by her children; Dixie (Darrel) Talcott, West Salem, Connie (Dan) Earle, Santa Rosa, Calif., Randy (Sandy) Kocian, Colby, Cindy (Paul) Schneider, Plover, and Jackie (Richard) Rates, Winnebago. She is also survived by her grandchildren; Stacy (Chris) Hutchinson, Tom (Katie) Talcott, John (Rhonda) Schneider, Jill (Chris) Mitchell, Robyn (Tom) Schindler, Robert (Jenny) Kocian, Rebecca (Ryan) Pest, Ryan (special friend Brenda) Kocian, Ian (special friend Christina) Rates and Christopher Rates. Maude is survived by her great grandchildren; Alexis, Zachary, Adeline, Cashton, Jenna, Brennan, Sawyer, Harper, Morgan, Isabellah, Marshall, Paige, and Presely. Maude is also survived by her siblings; Emery (Rita) Schmitt, Abbotsford; Mark (Delores) Schmitt, Colby; Linus (Joan) Schmitt, Wausau; Tim (Suzie) Schmitt, Owen; Naomi (Harry) Kruse, Grayslake, Ill., Mercedes Lang, Wauzeka, Germaine (Fred) Redmann, Athens, Mary Ann (Ted) Scanlon, Chicago, Ill., and Verjean Kunze, Abbotsford, Wis. Also survived by many other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; her sisters, Rita Peterson, Carmen Fosdick, Pamela Schmitt and Blanche Zera; and one brother, Roman Schmitt.

Her funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, October 20 at the Maurina-Schilling Funeral Home in Abbotsford, Wis. The Rev. Kenneth A. Dix will preside. Burial will follow at the Abbotsford Public Cemetery. Friends may call from 10:00 a.m. until time of services on Monday at the funeral home in Abbotsford, Wis. Tom Talcott, John Schneider, Robert Kocian, Ryan Kocian, Ian Rates and Tom Schindler will serve as her pallbearers.

Maurina-Shilling Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

Paid Obituary 43-88244