Elfrieda E. Kupsky

Elfrieda E. (Grandt) Kupsky 63, Wausau, went to her eternal home Wednesday, November 19, 2008 under the care of Comfort Care and Hospice Services at Aspirus Wausau Hospital, after a long courageous battle with kidney cancer. Elfrieda was born on October 4, 1945 in Chicago, daughter of the late Norman and Elfrieda (Schultz) Grandt. She received the gift of the Holy Spirit and became a child of God in her Baptism on December 9, 1945 at St. John Lutheran church in Northbrook, Ill. with Esther Grandt and Bernhardt Koeppen as her godparents. She renewed her baptism when she was confirmed on March 22, 1959 at St. John Lutheran Church, Northbrook, Ill. Elfrieda attended Wheeling Grade School, graduating in June 1959. She went on to Prospect High School in Mount Prospect, Ill. graduating in 1963. After graduation she worked at Affiliated Book in Wheeling, Ill. and then worked at Barrett-Cravens Company in Northbrook, Ill. On June 26, 1965 she married John A. Kupsky of Shawano. They were married at St. John Lutheran Church in Northbrook, Ill. by John's great uncle, Rev. William Kupsky. He was the love of her life for a long partnership of 43 years. They moved to Wausau in August 1966 and became members of Trinity Lutheran Church on Stewart Ave for over 41 years. Elfrieda taught Sunday school for a few years and helped as an assistant in vacation bible school. She loved music and was a member of the Sanctuary Choir for the last 8 years. She also started the Sunday morning nursery. For over 41 years Elfrieda worked in many medical offices around the Wausau area including Stahmer Clinic, Dohmen Drug Company, Bone and Joint Clinic, Sport and Spine Clinic, Allied Health Corporate Office and Marshfield Clinic Wausau Center medical records. Family and friends were very important to Elfrieda. She always tried to remember their birthdays, anniversaries and special occasions and because of this she was known as the "card lady". Survivors include her husband, John, Wausau; daughter, Dee Kupsky, Wauconda, Ill.; her only sister, Norma (Norbert) Scheck, Wauconda, Ill.; brothers-in-law, Wesley (Judy) Kupsky, Cato and Carl (Shirley) Kupsky, Sartell, Minn.; godmother, Esther (Grandt) Koeppen, Wheeling, Ill. and many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins as well as many friends. To greet her at the gates of heaven were her parents, paternal grandparents, Henry and Helena Grandt, maternal grandparents, George and Wanda Schultz, her godfather, Bernhardt Koeppen and many aunts, uncles and cousins. The funeral service will be 3:30 p.m. Sunday, November 23, 2008 at Trinity Lutheran Church, 501 Stewart Avenue, Wausau. The Rev. Gary Schultz will officiate. Visitation will be Saturday from 4-8 p.m. at Peterson/Kraemer Funeral Home, 3400 Stewart Avenue, Wausau and again Sunday from 2 p.m. until the time of services at the church. Private family burial will be in Restlawn Memorial Park, Wausau. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be directed to Trinity Lutheran Church and School or the charity of your choice. The family wishes to thank all the doctors and staff of Comfort Care and Hospice Services and Aspirus Wausau Hospital for their kind and loving care given to Elfrieda. Online condolences may be expressed at www.petersonkraemer.com