Esther M. Makovec

Esther
M. Makovec, 104, peacefully passed away on Saturday, September 13, 2014, at
Kindred Hearts Senior Living in Fond du Lac.

 

She
was born in Lamartine, Wisconsin on March 28, 1910, to William and Minnie
Roeder Oelke.  Growing up on the farm and
taking care of her brothers and sisters, Esther was in the first high school
graduating class of Winnebago Lutheran Academy, Fond du Lac.

 

Esther
married John Makovec in Chicago, Illinois in 1939.  The young couple were  hired to be the caretakers/managers of a 640
acre private girls camp in Clam Lake, Wi. 
Esther raised their four children in the Northwoods from 1944 to
1972.  Esther was known to be an
excellent cook, often entertaining the camp owners and guests.  Esther’s huge gardens of fresh produce were
even sought after by many black bears (who were greeted with banging pots and
pans through the kitchen screen window!).

 

Esther’s
youngest child, Eugene, was special needs and Esther devoted herself to his
quality of life.  At a time when there
weren’t resources for families, Eugene completed eighth grade and developed
many interests (crafts, music). 
After  her husband died, Esther
and Eugene moved to their family’s cozy homestead near Owen, Wisconsin.  Esther guided Eugene to attend camps, sports
events and get a job (which he had throughout his life).

 

In
1977, Esther and Eugene moved back to Fond du Lac and happily lived with her
sister Leona until 2007.  After both had
passed away, Esther lived by herself for the first time, at age 95.

 

Esther
enjoyed her later years at Northgate Senior Apartments.  She shared many joyful times with numerous
family and friends.  Esther’s annual ‘Birthday
Lasagna Feast’ became the event to attend, especially at #103!

 

Esther
was preceded in death by her husband, John; her son, Eugene;  her sisters: Leona, Doris, Ruth, and
Margaret; and her brothers, Harold and Lawrence.

 

Esther
is survived by one daughter, Nicole;  two
sons, Johnny, Billy (Jodie);  two
grandsons, Eric (Susan), and Brett (Lael), one granddaughter, Mylinda;  two great-granddaughters, Zoe and Anna;  together with numerous nieces, nephews, great
nieces, great nephews, and friends.

 

Funeral
services will be held in Fond du Lac at Redeemer Lutheran Church, 606 Forest
Avenue, on Thursday, September 18, 2014, at 11:30 a.m., with a luncheon at
church, following.  Visitation will take
place from 10:30 a.m. until the time of service at the church.

 

Funeral
services will be held in Greenwood, Wisconsin, on Friday, September 19, 2014,
at Our Saviors Lutheran Church, 110 W. 
Begley, at 12:30 p.m.  Visitation
will take place from 11:30 a.m. until the time of service.

 

Burial
will be in Riverside Cemetery, Withee, Wisconsin, with lunch to follow at
Meadowview Golf Course, Owen.

 

Memorials
may be directed to the church.

 

Mach
Funeral Chapel & Crematory is serving the family, www.machfuneralchapel.com.