Obit: Sebesta, Elaine Norma #2 (1930 - 2010)

Contact: Dolores Mohr Kenyon

Email: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Sebesta, Bruhn, Davis, Griffiths, Martin, Riedl, Cote, Foemmel, Schwinn

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI.) July 21, 2010

Sebesta, Elaine Norma (14 August 1930 - 14 July 2010)

Elaine Sebesta, 79, of Neillsville died Wednesday, July 14, 2010, at the House of the Dove in Marshfield.

Elaine Norma Sebesta was born Aug. 14, 1930, in Seif Township to Gerald and Eurma (Bruhn) Davis.  She attended the Wildwood School until 1941 when her parents purchased a farm in Washburn Township. At that time there was a shortage of students and teachers; students were transported and split up between Washington and Shortville. She graduated from the eighth grade at Cannonville and later Neillsville High School in 1948.  She then moved to Jefferson where she was employed at Maxmillian Night Club for the summer.  In the fall, she returned to Neillsville and was united in marriage to the love of her life, Robert Sebesta, Oct. 16, 1948, in Flagstaff, AZ. They then moved to San Rafael, CA where Robert was employed at a Ford Motor Company in Casablanca, Africa, so she returned to Neillsville to help care for her father, who had leukemia and help her mother with the farm. She then purchased her father-in-law’s farm in the Town of Levis in 1952 and farmed until her father’s death in 1961 when they purchased the family farm, which they sold to their son, Gerald "Rick", in 1990.

She was a loving and devoted wife and mother and had a special place in her heart for each one.  She enjoyed her grandchildren, loved baseball games, gardening, crocheting, jigsaw puzzles, decorating cakes and cookies and making candy and was an excellent cook.

She will be sadly missed by her daughter, Rolaine (Bruce) Griffiths of New York; three sons, Robert (Regina) Sebesta, Gerald (Lynn) Sebesta and Randy (LaNae) Sebesta, all of Neillsville; special friend, Elaine Martin of Neillsville; eight grandchildren, Robert (Serenity), Michael, Christopher, Kelsey, Jena, Kristine, Scott, Sheryl; seven step-grandchildren, Michael, Randy, Christopher, Stephanie, Jason, Dustin and Bronson; five great-grandchildren, Ty, Hudzon, mason, Owen and Kinzey.  Elaine is also survived by two sisters, Eleanor Riedl of Jefferson and Vivian Cote of Johnson Creek; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Robert; two sisters, Irene Foemmel and Mildred Davis; a half-brother, Sherman Davis, and three nephews.

A Memorial service for Elaine will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 24, 2010 at the United Church of Christ in Neillsville.  Pastor Mark Schwinn will officiate. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday at the Church. 

Online condolences may be made at www.geschefh.com.

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