Sylvia M. (Henry) Blazek

Sylvia M. Blazek, age 90, passed away Thursday, September 4, 2008, at Wheaton Franciscan-All Saints Medical Center. Sylvia was born in Prairie du Chein, WI, October 11, 1917, daughter of the late Robert James and Christina (Nee: Mezera) Henry and moved to Racine to be with her family in 2004.

On June 9, 1943, she was united in marriage to Theodore J. Blazek who preceded her in death in December 1994. Residing on the family farm near Wauzeka, Sylvia was a member of St. Wenceslaus Parish in Eastman. Sylvia loved being an elementary teacher and taught at several rural schools, retiring from the Wauzeka Public School System in 1982 after twenty-five years of teaching. Sylvia belonged to many senior groups including: Retired Teachers, Department of Aging and Coulee CAP. She also volunteered at the Blood Mobile and for Election Day polls. Above all she was a loving and devoted wife, mother, and grandmother who will be dearly missed.

Survivors include her son, James (Virgina) Blazek of Racine; her daughter, Carolyn (Ned) Azarian of Racine; her grandchildren, Andrea, Nicholas, Lisa, and Brad; sister, Ethel (Harold) Mezera of Junction City, WI; sisters-in-law, Carolyn Henry of Prairie du Chien, WI, and Emma Gunther of Eastman, WI; nieces, nephews, other relatives and many dear friends. In addition to her parents and husband she was preceded in death by her brothers, Everett Henry and Arnold Henry.

Funeral services were held with interment at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church, Eastman, WI. Memorials to St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church or to a charity of your choice have been suggested.

The family wishes to extend a special thank you to Dr. Zablotney for his loving care and support.

MARESH-MEREDITH & ACKLAM FUNERAL HOME
803 Main St., Racine (262) 634-7888

Milutin Simic

Milutin Simic, 55, passed away at Wheaton Franciscan all Saints on Thursday, September 4, 2008.

Milutin was born in Bosnia on September 16, 1952, to Radovan and Rosa (nee, Markovic) Simic. He married the former Pamela Krause in Waukegan on on September 27, 1972. Milutin was employed by CNH for the past 17 years. He loved sports and in his younger days played soccer.

Milutin is survived by his wife, Pamela Simic; children, Cassandra (George) Scholler, Radovan Simic and Nikola Simic; grandchildren, Alexander Scholler, Nikola Simic, Jr., Dominick Simic, Lucas Scholler and Natasha Simic; and his sisters, Marija Pittner and Nedeljka “Stoja” (Milan) Simic. Milutin is also survived by other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; and daughter, Christina Simic.

Funeral Services for Milutin will be held at St. George Serbian Orthodox Church, Braun Road, on Wednesday, September 10, 2008, at 10 a.m. with Rev. Marko Pantic officiating. Interment will follow at Good Hope Cemetery. Relatives and friends may meet with the family at the funeral home on Tuesday evening from 6 until 8 p.m. with the Mali Pomen at 7 p.m.

Purath-Strand Funeral Home & Crematory
3915 Douglas Ave., Racine (262) 639-8000

Albert D. 'Abie' De Rango

Albert “Abie” D. De Rango, 85, passed away peacefully at Harbor House Assisted Living on Thursday, September 4, 2008.

A lifetime resident, Albert was born in Racine on September 8, 1922, to the late Achille and Lillian (nee: Toy) De Rango.

On December 28, 1942, he was united in marriage with the true love of his life, Vera Ione Willis, who preceded him in death on October 15, 2003. Albert faithfully served our Country in WWII with the U.S. Navy from June 7, 1942, until December 10, 1946.

He was employed by JI Case Corp. from 1948 until he retired in 1983.

Albert was a long-time member of St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church. Al was a master craftsman who built model circus wagons and carousels. He was active with the Model Circus Builders and Circus Historical Society in Baraboo. Al proudly travelled around to schools in Racine and Kenosha showing his extensive circus collection to children of all ages, with the Intergenerational Volunteer Club. He also enjoyed building birdhouses and squirrel feeders. Above all, Albert loved being in the surroundings of his entire family.

Surviving are his children, Kenneth (Gloria) DeRango of Aiken, S.C. and Carol (Gary Seal) De Rango of Racine; grandchildren, James (A.J.) Uminski, Laura Uminski, Michael DeRango, and Theresa (Richard) Nelson; nine great-grandchildren; sisters, Dorothy Waldron, Catherine Kirk, Jean Britton and Marlene Collins; brothers-in-law, Allen (Frances) Willis, Wilbur (Jo) Willis and Gordon Gates; Dan Christensen who visited daily to bring humor and companionship to him over the past many years; many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends too numerous to mention by name.

The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Al’s 86th birthday on Monday, September 8, 2008, at 1 p.m. in St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church, 6400 Spring St., with Rev. William J. Dietzler officiating. Interment, with military honors, will follow in West Lawn Memorial Park. A gathering to continue celebrating Al’s life will follow the cemetery service at Infusino’s Banquet Hall. Visitation will be in the church on Monday from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

A heartfelt note of thanks to Dr. Robert M. Gullberg, Harbor House and Hospice Alliance for the compassionate care and support that was so generously offered in Dad’s time of need. Also, thanks to the volunteers of St. Paul the Apostle Church for the weekly visits that Dad looked so much forward to. God bless all of you!

Draeger-Langendorf Funeral Home & Crematory
4600 County Line Rd., Racine (262) 552-9000

Ruth (Milman) Sheft

Ruth Sheft, age 91, passed away Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2008, at Clairemont Rehabilitation and Living Center in Buffalo Grove, IL. She was born in Chicago, Illinois, on Sept. 14, 1916.

She graduated from Marshall High School and worked for a manufacturing concern in Chicago as Secretary-Bookkeeper until her marriage. After her children went to college, she worked in the gift shop at Premium Sales in Racine. She is a Life member of Hadassah in Racine, and a member of B’nai Tzedek Congregation in Kenosha and Beth Israel Sinai Congregation in Racine.

She was preceded in death by husband, Max. Surviving are her son, Mark (Susan); a daughter Renee (Ray); one grandson, Alexander; niece, cousins and friends.

Graveside services will be held at the Racine Jewish Memorial Cemetery on Friday, Sept. 5, 2008, at 11:30 a.m. with Rabbi Martyn Adelberg officiating. Donations to Hadassah will be appreciated.

MARESH-MEREDITH & ACKLAM FUNERAL HOME
803 Main St., Racine (262) 634-7888

Suzanne M. (Buck) Chaffee

Suzanne M. Chaffee, age 46, passed away Wednesday, September 3, 2008, at her residence. Suzanne was born in Tacoma, Washington, April 26, 1962, daughter of Gerald E. and Nancy B. (Nee: Bausman) Buck.

Suzanne was a graduate of William Horlick High School “Class of 1980” and attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church and a member of the Racine Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps, where she met her husband, Mark Chaffee. They were united in marriage on April 4, 1981, at the First Presbyterian Church. Suzanne was employed as an inspector at the Emissions Department for nine years. She enjoyed reading but above all treasured time spent with her family. She will be dearly missed.

Survivors include her husband, Mark; her children, Christopher (Brianna) Chaffee, Michelle Chaffee, all of Racine; her parents, Gerald and Nancy Buck; two brothers and a sister, Greg Buck of Peru, IN, Jennifer Thornton of Chandler, AZ, Peter (Gail) Buck of Artesia, CA; mother-in-law, Dorothy Chaffee of Racine; her sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Lynn (Kathy) Chaffee, Paul (Pat) Chaffee, Michael Chaffee, Bruce (Jean) Chaffee, Tony Chaffee (Holly), Randy Chaffee, Debbie Chaffee; nieces, nephews, other relatives and many dear friends. She was preceded in death by her father-in-law, Robert “Butch” Chaffee.

Funeral services will be held at the First Presbyterian Church, 716 College Avenue, on Monday, September 8, 2008, at 10:30 a.m. with Rev. Stephen Fringer officiating. Interment will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery, Hwy 32. Relatives and friends may meet with the family at the funeral home on Sunday from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. Memorials to the Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, 9000 W. Wisconsin Ave., Wauwatosa, WI, 53226 have been suggested.

MARESH-MEREDITH & ACKLAM FUNERAL HOME
803 Main St., Racine (262) 634-7888

Dorothy J. (Scott) Wanggaard

Mrs. Dorothy J. 'Scottie' Wanggaard, 83, passed away at her home on Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2008. She was born in Lewistown, Montana, on June 2, 1925, to the late Asa and Bessie (nee: Brownlee) Scott. She was raised by her maternal grandmother, Mary Scott, in Glenwood, Iowa.

She has lived in Racine since 1958. She graduated from Jenny Edmundson Memorial Hospital School of Nursing in 1946. She joined the U.S. Air Force Nursing Corps and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in 1950. She was stationed at Burtonwood Air Force Base in England. There she met 1st Lieutenant George K. Wanggaard, and they were married at the Base Chapel on March 15, 1952. He preceded her in death on June 17, 1987. She was employed for 16 years with the Racine Visiting Nurses, retiring in 1986, and then worked for All Saints VNA and Hospice as a staff nurse retiring in 1998. She enjoyed knitting, baking, reading and spending time with family.

She is survived by her sons: George S. (Jill); John (Anne); daughters, Susan, Kirstin (John) Burri and Lisa (Mark) Barrows; grandchildren, Ben (Lynnay) and Laura Wanggaard, Mitchell, Matthew and Kimberly Barrows and J.J. Wanggaard; step-grandsons, Todd and Lance (Marijo) Burri; step-granddaughters, Kaylie and Brittany Helding; step-great-grandchildren, Kayla, Mitchell, Nathanial and Owen Burri; sister, Lucy (Weldon) Sloan, Wilsonville, Oregon; many nieces, nephews and friends. She was preceded in death by her sister and brother-in-law; Mary and Gordon Royal; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law; Helmer (Loretta), Ellen, Herluf (Hattie), Lars (Nell) Wanggaard.

A Memorial service will be held at Atonement Lutheran Church, 2915 Wright Ave., on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2008, at 11 a.m. with Rev. Dr. Warren Williams officiating. Private inurnment has been held at West Lawn Memorial Park Garden Court Crypts. Friends may meet with the family at the church from 9 a.m. until the time of service.

Memorials in memory of Mrs. Wanggaard may be made to Wheaton Franciscan Hospice, Racine Zoological Society, Atonement Lutheran Church and Wisconsin Regional Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped.

Heartfelt thanks to Dr. Daniel Ross, Dr. Michael Mullane and Dr. James Tierney and their staffs as well as Wheaton Hospice for all their wonderful care.

Wilson Funeral Home
1212 Lathrop Ave., Racine (262) 634-3361

Leda Q. Robinson

Leda Q. Robinson, 48, was called home by her Lord and Savior on Tuesday September 2, 2008, with her family at her bedside. She was born in Racine on July 8, 1960, the daughter of the late James and Verneda (nee: Westmoreland) Robinson.

Leda received the Lord at an early life and was baptized at Second Missionary Baptist Church. She had been employed by Alpha Homes of Wisconsin. She truly loved her work. Leda enjoyed traveling, especially to Wisconsin Dells.

Surviving are her children, Lonnie Grandberry Jr., Tiara Grandberry, and Jessica Grandberry; their father Lonnie Grandberry Sr.; 11 grandchildren; brothers and sisters, Marcus (Linda) Robinson, Thomas (Theresa) Robinson, all of Racine, and Anita Robinson of San Antonio, TX ; fiancé Marvin Seals of Racine; special cousins Arthur Westmoreland and Andre Love; special friends Harvey Baker, Joanne Manning and Elsie Persons. Her nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins, other relatives and friends further survive Leda.

In addition to her parents, Leda was preceded in death by her grandparents, Frances Westmoreland, Icie Wright and Gene Hausmann.

Her Homegoing Service will be held in the funeral home on Tuesday September 9, 2008, at 11 a.m. with Rev. Willie Scott officiating. Visitation will be in the funeral home on Tuesday from 10 a.m. until the time of the service. Burial will follow in Graceland Cemetery.

DRAEGER LANGENDORF FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATORY
4600 County Line Rd., Racine (262) 552-9000