Obit: Zalabsky, Elsie Elizabeth (1914 - 2009)

Contact: Stan

Email: ken@wiclarkcountyhistory.org;

Surnames: Zalabsky, Chipps, Harrison, Hanson, Cychosc, Jacomet, Weber, Lindbloom

----Source: Marshfield News Herald, Marshfield, Wood Co., WI, Sun. 3 May 2009

Zalabsky, Elsie Elizabeth (2 Aug. 1914 - 2 May 2009)

Elsie Elizabeth Zalabsky, 94, died Fri., May 2, 2009, at Saint Joseph's Hospital in Marshfield. She was born Aug. 2, 1914, in the town of Artesian, S.D., to John C. and Edna (Chipps) Harrison.

Services will be held Tues., May 5, 2009, at 11 a.m. at the United Methodist Church of Wisconsin Rapids. Visitation will be held Mon. from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Higgins Funeral Home and Tues. at the United Methodist Church from 10 a.m. until the time of services. Burial will take place in Restlawn Memorial Park Cemetery.

She graduated from high school in Lacona, Iowa, and worked in the Des Moines, Iowa, and Baraboo ammunitions factories during World War II. After the war, she moved back to Artesian and married Clinton Hanson. They farmed there for several years. They had three children: Jimmy, who died at the age of four months, a daughter, Judy, and a second son, John. Clinton died in 1956. Elsie then moved her family from the farm and started a restaurant in Artesian, which she operated for two years. In 1958, she married Emil J. Zalabsky, and the family relocated to Wisconsin Rapids. He died May 9, 1995.

Elsie was a wonderful homemaker, as well as working for 17 years at Washington Elementary School as head cook, retiring in 1979. She was a member of the United Methodist Church, and served for many years on the Ladies Aid. Elsie was also involved with the Girl Scouts and served as a Cub Scout den mother.

Elsie was also preceded in death by her parents, two sisters and three brothers.

She is survived by her brother John Harrison; children Judy Hanson of Spencer and John (Yvonne) Hanson of Wisconsin Rapids; four grandchildren: Julie (Jim Cychosc) Hanson, Nicole (Rick) Jacomet, Katie (Josh) Weber, and Steve Lindbloom; five great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

Elsie was a very hard working, loving, caring person who will be sadly missed by all who knew her.

The Higgins Funeral Home is assisting the family with all arrangements.