Obit: Kapsy, Grace Louise (1916 - 2012)

Contact: Robert Lipprandt

E-mail: bob@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Blenkush, Centofante, Eastman, Kapsy, Long, Martin, Roback, Schaffart, Skalecki, Sullivan, Wuttke

----Source: The Star News (Medford, Taylor Co., Wisconsin) Thursday, January 19, 2012, online edition

Kapsy, Grace Louise (Martin) (April 8, 1916 - January 12, 2012)

Grace Louise Kapsy, age 95, of Gilman, passed away peacefully on January 12, 2012, at her daughter's home in Elkhorn, Wis., where she had resided for the past eight years.

Grace was born in Chicago, Ill., on April 8, 1916, to the late Elmer and Catherine (Sullivan) Martin.

Grace moved to Gilman with her family at the age of five, and later to the family farm in the Town of Ford when construction was finished. She attended Polly Grade School and Glenbard High School in Lombard, Ill. She graduated with a teaching certificate from Northern Illinois University in Dekalb, Ill., on June 2, 1937, specializing in chemistry and math.

Grace was united in marriage to Joseph Kapsy on September 7, 1940 in Lombard. They resided their entire lives in Gilman, raising two daughters and a son. Grace taught school in Hannibal, Sheldon and Gilman school districts, served as Gilman village clerk for many years, and maintained the books for her husband's business, Royal Oil Company.

Grace was very active in the local community and SS Peter and Paul Catholic Church where she taught CCD for many years and served as eucharistic minister. For many years, she was the local and deanery secretary/treasurer for the Catholic Order of Foresters. She was awarded the Pax Christi Medal, a Catholic Action Award, by the Superior Diocese Council of Catholic Women for her service to the church and diocese. This award is given to honor those women who live their faith and are an example to others.

For many years Grace was a devoted liaison for Plombon Funeral Service in Gilman, was always willing to give someone a hand when needed, and was a very skilled seamstress, crocheter and knitter. She enjoyed cooking and baking, especially trying something new for dessert, and spent many hours outside gardening, taking care of her yard, and cultivating habitat for and feeding the wild birds. She was very proud of her Irish heritage. Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren brought much joy to her, enjoying every minute spent with them.

Grace is survived by her daughters, Eloise Blenkush of Rochester, Minn., and Sharon (Virgil) Wuttke of Elkhorn; three grandchildren, Suzanne (Jourdan) Schaffart of Woodbury, Minn., Shannon (Glen) Eastman of Eau Claire, and Nathan (Danielle) Blenkush of Attleboro, Mass.; four great-grandchildren, David Eastman, Madeleine, Liam and Abigail Blenkush; brother Vincent (Patricia) Martin of Canyon Lake, Calif.; sister, Lorraine Centofante of Canyon Lake; plus many, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Joseph, in 1984; son, J. Dean in 2008; brother, Lt. Elmer Martin II; sisters-in-law, Mary (John) Skalecki and Angeline (Rusty) Roback; and brothers-in-law, Casmier (Mary) Kapsy and Steven (Ann) Kapsy. Memorials are requested to be given to SS Peter and Paul Catholic Church of Gilman or the Village of Gilman park fund. The family would also like to thank Aurora Hospice Care for the wonderful care given to Grace.

Services will be held on Saturday, Jan. 21 at 10 a.m. at SS Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Gilman, with Father John Long officiating. Burial will follow in Meadow Brook Cemetery.

Friends and family may call on Friday evening from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Gilman Funeral Home, with a 7 p.m. prayer service being recited.