Elaine L. Blakeslee, Whitewater  (1931 - 2012)

August 26, 1931 - January 27, 2012
Elaine L. Blakeslee, age 80, of Whitewater, died on Friday, Jan. 27, 2012, at Ft Atkinson Memorial Hospital. She was born in Richland County, WI, on Aug. 26, 1931, the daughter of Lester and Edna (Brandt) Dietz. She married Philip G. Blakeslee on Oct. 8, 1949, in Line Ridge, WI. He preceded her in death on March 15, 1995. She was a member of First English Lutheran Church in Whitewater. She served as the Secretary of the Whitewater Chamber of Commerce for 20 years, and worked as a greeter at Wal-Mart for 14 years, retiring in November of 2010.
She is survived by her son, Dale (Vicki) Blakeslee of Elkhorn; her daughter, Joanne (Daniel) Ehnerd of Green Bay; her grandchildren: Chris (Becky) Blakeslee, Debbie (Kurt) De Porter, Roberta (Bret) Morschauser, Jessica (Kelby) Cuevas, Luke (Becky) Stallings, Bill (Kristen) Stallings, and Janelle (Craig) Matthiesen; 13 great-grandchildren; her sisters, Janice (Bob) Tennant of Spring Green and Audrey Strutz of Reedsburg; her brothers, Kenneth (Helen) Dietz of Columbus and David Dietz of Madison; special friends, Faith Hansen and Jane Blakeslee; other relatives and friends.
She was also preceded in death by her parents; an infant daughter, Debora; one sister, Ruth; and two brothers, Ronald and Ted.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2012, at the FIRST ENGLISH LUTHERAN CHURCH in WHITEWATER, with the Rev. Steve R. Hanson and Rev. Jerald Wendt co-officiating. Burial will be in Hillside Cemetery in Whitewater. Friends may call after 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday at the CHURCH until time of services.
The family requests memorials to First English Lutheran Church or the Whitewater Food Pantry.
OLSEN FUNERAL HOME in WHITEWATER is assisting the family with arrangements.
The family wants to express their gratitude to the SouthernCare Hospice in Madison for the special care they gave Elaine over the last two years, and a special Thank You to Rachel, Brittany and Brandie for being so special to mom.