Donald G. Kirt Sr.

Donald G. Kirt Sr., age 81, passed away Sunday, April 29, 2012, at Oak Ridge Care Center, Union Grove, WI. Donald was born in Racine, September 17, 1930, son of Edward and Mabel (Nee: Bark) Kirt.

Don graduated from St. John Nepomuk Grade School, then attended St. Francis de Sales Seminary before graduating from St. Catherine’s High School. He went on to study speech and drama at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. During the Korean War, Don served in the United States Army as 2nd Lieutenant while stationed in Germany.

Various career paths were taken through the years. Don worked for Rogan Shoes before opening his own shoe business, Key Shoe Outlets, with stores located in downtown Racine and South Bend, IN. He also was the manager of Hotel Racine on Monument Square, then served again as manager years later when it was converted to the Racine Motor Inn. Don served as administrator of St. Monica’s Senior Citizen Home. He also enjoyed his time as a radio broadcaster at WISC (Madison), WRAC and WRJN in Racine. Sales became his focus when he worked in advertising for National Merchandising, in auto sales (co-owner) at Belle Auto Mart, and then as a realtor and mortgage loan officer in Illinois.

Don served as President of the Racine Businessmen’s Association, Vice-President of the Racine Art Association, and Racine Crusade Chairman for the American Cancer Society, as well as many other art and business associations. Don’s love for the stage was highlighted as he performed in nearly forty productions with the Racine Theatre Guild. He also was an award-winning artist (watercolor and oil paintings) showing work at Wustum Art Museum and throughout Wisconsin, Illinois and Arizona at various art shows and museums.

Don enjoyed spending time with his friends during their weekly handball games at the YMCA, riverboating down the Mississippi River, and playing with the bridge club. An avid fisherman, Don spent many weekends aboard his boat on Lake Michigan and throughout Wisconsin. He retired to Sun Lakes, AZ, where he volunteered as a local cable news anchor for SLN-TV. He also enjoyed traveling with friends and spent many nights dancing with the ladies!

 Of course, his favorite volunteer position was serving as Assistant Coach to the Green Bay Packers every week from the comfort of his living room. They rarely listened…especially during the 1970s.

Survivors include his children, Donald (Maureen) Kirt Jr., Kara (Jeff) Wunderle; his grandchildren, Nicole Kirt, Alex Kirt, Sam Wunderle, Madeline Wunderle; his mother, Mabel Kirt; sisters and brother, Nancy (Glenn) Pfeffer, Dennis (Diane) Kirt, Laurine (Paul) Gedemer; nieces, nephews, other relatives and many dear friends. He was preceded in death by his father, Edward Kirt; former wives, Marilyn (Nee: Duffy), and Sue (Nee: Giovannoni).

A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, May 5, 2012, at 11 a.m. at the funeral home with Rev. Sean Granger officiating. Relatives and friends may meet with the family Saturday at the funeral home from 10 a.m. until time of service at 11 a.m.

A very special thank you to the caregivers at Oak Ridge for their loving and compassionate care given to Donald for the last five years.

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

Ellen E. Anderson

Ellen E. Anderson, age 94, passed away Friday, April 27, 2012, at Kindred Nursing and Rehabilitation, Burlington, WI. Ellen was born in Racine, November 7, 1917, daughter of the late James and Eda (Nee: Ferber) Anderson.

Ellen was a longtime member of first Evangelical Lutheran Church. She was employed by the YMCA in food service for many years, retiring in 1982. Ellen enjoyed traveling and ballroom dancing and the dance lessons she took from Arthur Murray School of Dance. She will be dearly missed.

Survivors include her sister-in-law, Joyce Anderson; nieces and nephews, Robert (Judy) Anderson, Richard (Chris) Anderson, James (Cathy) Anderson, Patricia (Bruce) Nowak; grandnieces, grandnephews, other relatives and friends. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by brothers, Raymond and Willard; a sister, Mildred Schoeppe; and a sister-in-law, Leona Anderson.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday, May 2, 2012, at 11 a.m. at First Evangelical Lutheran Church, 728 Villa St., with Reverend Aaron Dolan officiating. Interment will follow at West Lawn Memorial Park. Relatives and friends may meet Wednesday at the church from 10:30 a.m. until time of service.

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

Mildred "Millie" L. Cordova

Mildred L. Cordova, age 46, passed away Friday, April 27, 2012, at Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital, Wauwatosa, WI. Millie was born in Chicago, IL, on November 20, 1965, daughter of Ruben Cordova and Olga M. Rios. She was a loving and devoted mother who will be dearly missed.

Survivors include her loving son, Jonathan Torres; her parents, Ruben Cordova, Olga Rios; sister and brothers, Damaris (David) Vargas, Ruben (Zory) Cordova, Idaliz (Elias) Cordova; the father of her son, Abel Torres; nieces, nephews, other relatives and many dear friends.

Funeral services will be held at Iglesia Canaan, Templo de Restauracion, 1119 Kewaunee St., Racine. Relatives and friends may meet with the family at the church Thursday, May 3, from 5 p.m. until 10 p.m. and Friday, May 4, from 9 a.m. until time of service at noon. Interment will follow at Graceland Cemetery.

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

Lois Lorraine Reinke

Lois L. Reinke, 82, joined the Lord in heaven on Thursday, April 26, 2012, at Becker-Shoop Center in Mt. Pleasant.

She was born on November 19, 1929, to the late Otto and Evelyn (nee: Avery) Reinke in Minot, North Dakota.

She had been employed by Motor Specialty for 36 years before her retirement in 1995. Lois enjoyed drawing, sculpting, painting pictures and photographs.

Lois will be dearly missed by her sister and brother-in-law, Coleen (Clifford) Miller; nephews, Randolph, Scott and Steve Miller; niece, Lori (Jesus) Huarota; grandnieces and nephews, Kendra, Michelle, Connor, Carson and R.J.; as well as her special cat, Molly.

Private services in honor of Lois were held. Interment took place in Trinity Cemetery in Fall Creek, WI.

The family would like to thank Julie Miller and the staff at Becker-Shoop and Allay Hospice for their kind and compassionate care during this difficult time.

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

Pastor Raymond Allan Christenson

Surrounded by his loving family, Pastor Raymond Allan Christenson, age 49, passed away Wednesday, April 25, 2012, at Aurora VNA Zilber Family Hospice, Wauwatosa, WI. He was born in Sioux City, IA, on June 24, 1962, son of Rene and Gloria (Nee: Wyatt) Antreassian.

Raymond was a graduate of William Horlick High School “Class of 1980.” On October 9, 1982, in Racine he was united in marriage to Kim M. Highman. Raymond’s passion was preaching the gospel. He founded the Gospel Lighthouse Church and served as pastor for eighteen years. He also served as chaplain of the Mt. Pleasant Police Department and as bishop of the North Central District Pentecostal Church of God. Ray had been in the auto body business since age 16 and worked at Racine Auto Body for the past twenty-five years. His pastimes included baseball, basketball, golfing and camping at River Bend Resort. More than anything, he treasured time with his family. He will be deeply missed.

Survivors include his loving wife, Kim; his children, Ray (Cynthia) Christenson Jr., Ashley Christenson, Caleb Christenson; his three grandchildren, Jaidyn-Ray, Mason, Eliana; his father, Rene Antreassian; sisters and brother, Lisa (Mike) Mehevic, Renee (Matt) Chamberlain, Andre (Lori) Antreassian; mother-in-law, Marilyn Highman; brothers-in-law, Thomas Highman, Craig (Marci) Highman, Jeff (Jenny) Highman, Kevin Highman; nieces, nephews, other relatives and many dear friends. He was preceded in death by his son, Bradley Thomas; his mother, Gloria Antreassian; father, Allan Christenson; and his sister, Tammy Christenson.

A Memorial Service will be held Sunday, April 29, 2012, at 6 p.m. at the Gospel Lighthouse Church, 1230 6th St., with Raymond Christenson Jr. officiating. (Please enter church from Water Street.) Relatives and friends may meet with the family Sunday at the church from 3 p.m. until time of service at 6 p.m.

A very special thank you to Dr. Turaga and Dr. Ingels and Zilber Hospice for their loving and compassionate care.

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

Shirley A. (Lamers) Runkel

Shirley A. Runkel, age 81, passed away Wednesday, April 25, 2012, at her residence in Hutto, Texas. Shirley was born in Racine on February 4, 1931, daughter of the late John and Annette (Nee: Haas) Lamers.

On April 22, 1950, at Waukegan, IL, she was united in marriage to James Runkel, who preceded her in death, May 24, 2001. She was employed for many years as an inspector at E.C. Styberg Engineering Company. Shirley was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church. She enjoyed reading in her spare time. She will be remembered as a loving and devoted mother, grandmother and great-grandmother who will be dearly missed.

Survivors include her children, Jim (Paulette) Runkel of Racine, Kim Runkel of Tarpin Springs, FL, Tim Runkel of Hutto, TX, Tom Runkel of Sturtevant, Nancy (Bill) Collentine of Hutto, TX; her eight grandchildren, Cory, Kip, Timmy, Lori, Jason, Megan, Carly and Kady; ten great-grandchildren and one due in June; brothers and sister, Jim (Judy) Lamers of Racine, Joe (Barb) Lamers of Fort Myers, FL, Katherine (Don) Skorkie of Pickens, SC, Mike (Cathy) Lamers of Racine; nieces, nephews, other relatives and many dear friends. In addition to her parents and husband she was preceded in death by her son, Danny; brothers, Lawrence Lamers, John (Lorna) Lamers; and a nephew, Rodney Lamers.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Friday, May 4, 2012, at 10 a.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 2201 Northwestern Ave., with Rev. Ronald O. Crewe officiating. Interment will follow at Holy Family Cemetery, Caledonia. Relatives and friends may meet with the family Thursday at the funeral home from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m. and Friday at the church from 9:15 a.m. until 9:45 a.m.

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

Frank P. Zurawski

Surrounded by his loving family, Frank P. Zurawski, age 89, passed away Wednesday, April 25, 2012, at his residence. Frank was born in Racine, January 25, 1923, son of the late Alex and Anna (Nee: Brodzinski) Zurawski.

Frank was a graduate of William Horlick High School “Class of 1941.” During World War II from 1946-1947 Frank proudly served in the United States Army in the occupational forces stationed in Austria. On May 10, 1947, at St. Matthew Catholic Church in Oak Creek he was united in marriage to Anna I. Noll. He was employed by SC Johnson for thirty-one years as a maintenance machinist until his retirement in 1984. He was a member of St. Rita Catholic Church and SC Johnson’s “20-Year Club.” He enjoyed fishing, bowling, golfing and especially loved gathering with his family at their home. He will be deeply missed.

Survivors include his loving wife of sixty-five years, Anna; his sons, Francis (Leanne) Zurawski, Gerald (Christine) Zurawski, Dan (Frankie) Zurawski, Patrick (Jackie) Zurawski; his grandchildren, Jennifer (David) Willing, Peter (Angela) Zurawski, Steven (Katie) Zurawski, Mark Zurawski, Adam (Nyla) Zurawski, Terasa (Jeremy) Haase, Andrew Zurawski, Alaina Zurawski (fiancé, Matthew Eckert), Sarah Zurawski, Amy Zurawski, Anna Zurawski, Katie Zurawski, Sam Zurawski; seven great-grandchildren; brothers and sister, Casimir Zurawski, Walter (Beverly) Zurawski, Don (Lee) Zurawski, Jan Caretta; sister-in-law and brothers-in-law, Frances (Stephen) Horvath, Laverne Noll, Lawrence Noll; nieces, nephews, other relatives and many dear friends. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his son, Paul Zurawski; brother, John Zurawski; and sisters, Helen Gemmell and Angeline Selear.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Monday, April 30, 2012, at 11 a.m. at St. Rita Catholic Church, 4339 Douglas Ave., with Rev. Kevin Mullins O.S.A. officiating. Interment with full military honors will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery, Hwy 32. Relatives and friends may meet with the family at the church on Monday from 9:30 a.m. until time of Mass at 11 a.m. Memorials to St. Catherine’s High School have been suggested.

A very special thank you to Wheaton Franciscan Hospice staff for their loving and compassionate care.

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