Eleanor J. Albertson, Albany  (1921 - 2010)

March 7, 1921 - February 2, 2010
Eleanor J. Albertson, 88, Albany, WI, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2010, at Hawthorne’s home in Albany. She was born on in Belleville, WI, on March 7, 1921, daughter of William and Evelyn Hartwig. Eleanor was united in marriage to Wayne Albertson Sr. at St. James Catholic Church in Dayton, WI, on Aug. 21, 1941. They shared 63 loving years together. Wayne preceded her in death in Sept. 9, 2004. Wayne and Eleanor lived all their lives in Attica, where Eleanor was very active and supportive of Wayne and their son in farming, auctioneering, and in the insurance business. Eleanor graduated from Belleville High School and went on to being a student at the Green County Normal School of Teaching, and graduated in 1941. She taught grade school students at Attica, Jug Prairie, West Dayton, Brooklyn Elementary, and Oregon, where she became a lead teacher in her unit until her retirement in 1987. In 1963 she graduated from Edgewood College in Madison, attaining a further teaching degree. She was a scholar, and to that tribute Eleanor, along with her husband, Wayne Sr., is the founder of Albertson Memorial Library, which was dedicated on Feb. 4, 2006, in Albany, WI.
She was a member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Albany, a devoted sister, wife, mother, grandmother, and had a wonderful sense of humor. She enjoyed traveling with the 40/40 Club. She loved her students (many of whom joined the celebration of her and Wayne’s 60th Wedding Anniversary), friends and family. She loved to dance, play cards, bowl, and was an excellent cook and hostess. Eleanor lived life to the fullest, and made friends wherever she went. She will be missed by all that had the honor of knowing her.
Eleanor is survived by her son, Wayne (Jan) Albertson Jr. of Albany; granddaughter, Karen Ann Albertson (William) Moore of Albany; brother, Richard Hartwig of Belleville; sister, Bernice Steinhauer of Verona; sister, Gladys Hartwig of Madison; many nieces and nephews.
Eleanor was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Wayne Sr. in 2004; a grandson, Duane (Dewey) Albertson in 1996; and a granddaughter, Sharon Ann Albertson Kruger in 2007.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 6, 2010, at ST. PATRICK’S CATHOLIC CHURCH in Albany, with Fr. Michael Moon Celebrating. Burial will follow in Norwegian Cemetery – rural Albany. Visitation will be from 4 until 7 p.m. Friday at SHRINER-HAGER-GOHLKE FUNERAL HOME, 1455 Mansion Drive and 18th Avenue in Monroe, WI. A Memorial Fund is being established in Eleanor’s memory to the Albertson Memorial Library in Albany, WI.
The family would like to extend a special thank you and sincere gratitude to Clara and Bill Hawthorne and their staff for the compassionate and loving care shown to our Mom and Grandmother the past several years.