Friday, October 18, 2019

ELAINE E (VALENTINE) SERVAIS


Elaine E. (Valentine) Servais, age 94, passed away on October 17, 2019 at Aspirus Care and Rehab under the care of Hope Hospice, where she had been residing for the past 3 weeks.

Elaine was the fourth of nine children born at home in Detroit, MI on July 8, 1925 to Cecelia (Detloff) and Alphonse Valentine. After graduation from Annunciation Catholic High School in 1943, she was employed at Hudson Motor Company and the Veterans’ Administration. At the end of WWII, the adventurous Elaine, along with one of her sisters and two friends, traveled to Great Lakes Naval Base for the opportunity of earning $50 a week to process the large volume of naval personnel returning home from the war.

 It was while employed there that she met her future spouse, Donald Servais, from Kenosha, WI. The couple was wed on June 7, 1947 in Detroit, MI. They then moved to Madison, WI, where Donald pursued his education at the University of WI and Elaine held various clerical jobs.  After Donald completed his studies, the couple made their home in Kenosha, WI. Like many other woman of her generation, Elaine was primarily a housewife and mother until her children were raised. She was a member of two monthly Women’s Bridge Clubs, an Adoptive Mothers’ support group, Sweet Adelines  Chorus and Catholic Women’s Club. Once her daughters were older, she was employed at S.P.E.B.S.Q.A (Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartets of America) in Kenosha.

After Donald’s death in 2005, Elaine moved to Medford, WI to be closer to family and she became a much loved resident at Country Gardens, Care Partners and most recently, Our House Assisted Living. While she was able, she enjoyed participating in the Country Gardens float in the Halloween parade, the Walk to End Alzheimer’s, the Red Hat Ladies visits, playing cards and bingo. She was a member of Holy Rosary Catholic Church.

In addition to her spouse and parents, Elaine was preceded in death by sisters: Cecilia Allor, Mary Dietz, and Jean Valentine and brothers: George Valentine and Anthony Valentine.

Elaine is survived by daughters: Terri (Mark) Hubbard of Medford, WI and Nancy Servais-Ford of Norfolk, VA; sisters: Lenore Biebel of Michigan, Margaret Ramant of Florida and Carol (Frank) Ferri of Illinois and sister-in-law: Janet Valentine of Michigan. She is further survived by four grandchildren: Vanessa (Ryan) Hillebrand, Jared (Tara) Hubbard, Noah (Kim Smith) Hubbard and Chelsea (Jeremy) Zenner and 10 great-grandchildren: Ezra, Raina, Brandon, Ethan, Isaiah, Kai, Myah, Tanner, Bryer and Willow.

A memorial service will be held at 11 AM on Friday, November 1, 2019 at Hemer Funeral Home, Medford, with Rev. David Clements officiating. Visitation will be on Friday, November 1, 2019 at Hemer Funeral Home, Medford from 10 AM until the time of service. Interment will take place at a later date.

In lieu of gifts or flowers, the family requests donations be made to a charity of your choice or perform a random act of kindness in Elaine’s memory.

Hemer Funeral Service of Medford and Rib Lake serving the family. For online condolences, please visit hemerfuneralservice.com.