Obituary of Elaine Helen Slack

Elaine Helen (Kumlin) Slack, 93, of rural Viroqua, WI passed away surrounded by family at the home of her son in St. Maries, Idaho on Wednesday, September 7, 2016. Elaine was born on January 22, 1923 in rural DeSoto, WI to Will and Lena Kumlin. She attended grades 1-8 at Sunnyside School and then went to Central High School in LaCrosse where she graduated as valedictorian in January 1942. She took a business course at LaCrosse Vocational School and worked for Dairyland Power Coop in Genoa, Vernon Electric Coop in Wesby and the Ration Board in Milwaukee. Elaine met the love her life, Ernest Slack, at a barn dance in 1942. They were married on April 26, 1944 at the old DeSoto Lutheran Church. Ernest passed away on November 7, 1986. They rented a farm on Dach Ridge before buying a farm in Sag City in 1951. She loved the farm, the change in seasons, and a beautiful sunset. She liked wind chimes and wind socks as evidence on the farm house porch. Elaine was a faithful member of the Southwest Prairie Lutheran Church for over 65 years and served many offices in the church and Ladies Aid. She was a voracious reader and especially liked a good mystery. She was a wonderful correspondent remembering so many people regardless of the occasion in the cycle of life. Interesting clippings and quotable quotes were often included in her letters and cards. She loved to travel whether it was camping with the family throughout the U.S., or trips to Sweden, England, France, Italy and Israel. Elaine’s devotion to Ernest, their two children, Marjorie (Bob) Breisblatt of Glencoe, IL and Arlo (Michelle) Slack of St. Maries, ID; their 8 grandchildren Sarah (Howard) Abrams, Deborah Breisblatt, Travis (Haingo) Slack, Tina (Mark) Klismith, Bryan (Kristi Masterson) Chase, Brent (Shizuka) Chase, Dustin (Margie) Chase & Nikolas (Natsumi) Chase and their 17 great-grandchildren will be treasured forever. She was preceded in death by her husband Ernest; parents Will and Lena Kumlin; brothers Vernon (Peg) Kumlin, Merlin (Vada) Kumlin; sisters Vera (Carl) Sallender and Dorothy (Neal) Stromstad. The family acknowledges the many kindnesses of the Armand & Mary Jo Bringe Family, Niece Gloria Burke, Laure Wallace and the staff at Valley Vista Cottage Care. Suggested memorials in honor of Elaine’s life should be sent to Macintosh Memorial Library in Viroqua or Sugar Creek Bible Camp in Ferryville, WI.