Leila Ella Anna Friske, 100, of Kendall died Sunday, Nov. 24, 2013, at Heritage Manor in Elroy.
She was born Jan. 14, 1913, to Olaus “Herman” and Rosella Anna (Sonnenberg) Moe in the town of Glendale, Foothills Valley, on the family farm. She was baptized Feb. 23, 1913, at St. John’s German Lutheran Church in Kendall by Rev. Otto Engel, and she was later confirmed Dec. 5, 1926. Leila attended school in Kendall and was a member of the Kendall High School graduating class of 1930.
After graduating from high school, Leila attended Mount Sinai Nursing School in Milwaukee, graduating in 1933. She was employed as a registered nurse at Mount Sinai from 1933 to 1946.
On June 7, 1945, Leila was united in marriage to Bernard Friske at Salem Lutheran Church in Milwaukee. In 1946, Leila and Bernard relocated to the Kendall area, purchasing a local farm. Although raising a family was Leila’s first priority, she continued to serve the local community as the health officer of the Village of Kendall and later for the Town of Glendale during the polio epidemic of the 1950s. She also assisted with mobile x-rays, the Red Cross, the American Legion Auxiliary and the annual March of Dimes campaign.
From 1958 to 1975, Leila spent time working at Hess Memorial Hospital or Pleasant Acres Nursing Home. At home, she kept busy raising her family and helping out with the farm work.
In the late 1970s, Leila and Bernard were able to start traveling, spending their winters in McAllen, Texas. They enjoyed their annual trips to Texas and often opened their Texas home to family and friends from Kendall. They also traveled to Mexico, where Leila was able to continue her love of nursing by volunteering at an orphanage in Monterey. When Leila was no longer able to travel to Texas, she filled her days by spending time with her family and beloved friends of the Kendall community, playing cards, making table favors for the annual church mother-daughter banquet, and sharing an Ole and Lena joke or two.
Leila was a faithful and devoted member of St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church. She was also a loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, great-great-grandmother and friend.
She is survived by three sons, Charles (Ruth) Werkowski of West Allis, Wis., Richard Friske of Kendall and John (Connie) Friske of Verona, Wis.; a daughter, Betty (Robert) Manson of Elroy; 11 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; an aunt, Ruby Friske of Mauston; and nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband; an infant daughter, Anna; a brother, Gordon Moe; and a sister, Irene Hart.
A funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 27, at St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kendall. Pastor Steven W. Neuman will officiate. Burial will be in Glendale Cemetery. Relatives and friends are invited to call at the church from 4-8 p.m. Tuesday and from 10-11 a.m. Wednesday. The Smith-Nelson Funeral Home in Kendall is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be given at www.sonnenburgfamilyfh.com.
