Eleanor Wildrick

Eleanor Marguerite (Kujawa) Wildrick, 100, passed away Wednesday, November 22, 2017, at Oakwood Villa Nursing Home in Altoona, Wisconsin, after receiving loving goodbyes from her daughters.

She was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the oldest of four children, to Lottie and William Kujawa. After graduating from St. Josephat’s Grade School, she went to Bay View High School, where she earned a bronze medal for scholarship and attendance. She then worked for Zeigler Candy Company as a bookkeeper until she married Tom Wildrick. They met on New Year's Eve. During their first dance, Tom told her he would marry her, which he did, on June 28, 1941.

They moved to Chicago, where he was working.
About a year later, work took them back to Milwaukee. It was there that their children Carolyn, James, and Patricia were born. In 1952 Tom took a job with the State of Wisconsin and they moved to a little town, Hilbert, south of Green Bay, to be in the center of Tom’s work territory.

After three years, Tom was promoted and the family all moved to Madison, where Tom worked at the State Capital.

During those years, Eleanor was an active member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish, working at parish events and teaching CCD. She became chairwoman of the Madison Deanery, promoting help for the poor and disadvantaged. She was also the Radio and Television Chairperson, who monitored programs acceptable for children. She taught CCD, too.

Ten years later, Tom was promoted to the head of the Eau Claire Region of the State of Wisconsin, Department of Agriculture, Dairy food and Trade, Consumer Practices Division. Eleanor continued to be an active parish member, now at St. Mary’s in Altoona. She began the Mission Workshop Group in 1968, which spread to many parishes throughout the deanery. She was a member of the St. Cecilia’s Group of the Altar Society, which provided luncheons after funerals. She was also an International Affairs Chairperson for the Chippewa—Eau Claire Deanery. She again taught CCD.

After breakfast each morning, she and Tom read the Bible, prayed, and then enjoyed pouring over the newspaper and a good book. Eleanor was always an avid gardener and has a great love of flowers and all kinds of plants. After Tom retired, they traveled throughout our country, Europe, and the Holy Land. They took classes at the university. They enjoyed many happy times with their family at Lake Namakagon.

Eleanor was a dedicated, passionate and generous woman, married to the love of her life for 72 years. Together they provided strength and inspiration to their children and others, devoting unlimited time and encouragement to them to be the best they could be. Eleanor also recognized the importance of civic affairs and political events, and was very engaged in them, taking her youngest daughter to see President- Elect Kennedy at the field house in Madison.

She had a deep affection for the family cats and dogs. Her most recent companions were Lucy the dog and Maya the cat, who came to visit her every evening!

She became a grand host-mother to many international students, especially, Sindija Hartmane- Sulte, Latvia; Tea Rozman- Clark, Slovenia/Minneapolis; and Kerstin Deutch, Germany.

She enjoyed margaritas at the Cancun Restaurant and strawberry crepes with Nutella on Sundays at the Nucleus Restaurant, which she did 10 days prior to her passing.

In 2007, she and Tom moved to Oak Gardens Place, an assisted living facility, where they also enjoyed the activities and the people there.

Tom passed away in 2014 and after a nasty fall in March of 2016, Eleanor resided at Oakwood Villa.

On this Monday, November 27, at 7:00 P.M., she will be honored during the Wisconsin Public Television Program, Channel 2, "Our House, the Wisconsin Capitol." Her husband Tom's Weights and Measures office was in the dome of the capiitol and Eleanor frequently brought guests---family and friends--to visit, and then catch a bite to eat with Tom.

In addition to her parents and her husband, Thomas, she was preceded in death by a son, James Thomas Wildrick, her beloved son-in- law, Patrick Stoffers, her siblings, Arthur Kujawa (Rose), Dorothy Linn (Marshall), Jean Baldzikowski (Gil) and nephew Bob (Carolyn) Kujawa.

She is survived by her daughters, Sister Carolyn Wildrick and Patricia Stoffers. She is also survived by nieces and nephews: Kathy Hutchison (the late Dick), Joan Kelley (Mark), Jane Witkowski (Tom), Sandy De Ford (Larry), Jeffrey Linn, Susie Linn, Sharon Linn, Bill Kujawa (Chris), Patricia Kujawa (Fred), Cindy Russo (Tony), Sandy Nyffeler (Greg), grand nephew Adam (Sarah) De Ford and grand-grand niece Ella De Ford.

She is further survived by devoted friends who became family, Neil Kjarsgaard, Lucia Verduzco, Tracy Borkenhagen and, in addition, Fay Hubbard, Chippewa Falls, whom she came to call her "other executive daughter" and Xana Gonzalez-Klein, her grand God- daughter in Spain.

Her funeral service will be at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 1812 Lynn Ave., Altoona, with Father Derek Sakowski officiating. Visitation will begin at 11:00 A.M. followed by Mass at 12:00 P.M. Entombment will follow at 2:30 in the Calvary Mausoleum.

Her family wishes to thank all her wonderful and compassionate caregivers at Oakwood Villa who enriched her life daily with their kindness and assistance.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the St. Francis Food Pantry (Eau Claire) or Wisconsin Public Television (Madison).

Stokes, Prock, and Mundt Funeral Chapel, Altoona is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be shared a www.stokesprockmundt.com