Florine Ellen Fondow, 89, died Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2010. Florine shed this mortal coil to join her husband, Ray, and other beloved relatives and friends, who had passed through this temporal world before her.
Florine was born in Merrill, third of the five children born to Edward and Clara Zastrow. Florine’s parents and all of her siblings are deceased.
In high school, Florine was a leader in the women’s academic achievement society and one of the top graduates in her class. After completing a year in business school in Milwaukee, Florine returned to Merrill and worked at the local shoe factory.
In January of 1945, Florine married Raymond Fondow, a Navy electrician’s mate home on leave after the D-Day invasion of Normandy. After a brief honeymoon, Ray returned to the war in Europe and was discharged after V-J Day.
After the war ended, Florine and Ray moved to Green Bay where Ray had found work as a hod carrier for the Selmer Company.
Florine and Ray raised four sons, Terry (Ann), Merrill; Jerry (Sherry), Poulsbo, WA; Randy (Barb), Green Bay; and Robin (Karen), Rosedale, MN. In addition to raising four sons, including twins, Florine was both an employee and a volunteer for the Brown County (Neville) Public Museum for 26 years. Florine served as the artifact accessioner for the museum’s collection, the librarian and as a docent at Hazelwood. Florine became a self-taught expert in the histories of both Green Bay and Merrill and she considered herself blessed to be able to have an avocation that also became a vocation.
One of Florine’s proudest accomplishments was to be the cofounder of the Green Bay Mothers of Twins Club, now the Mothers of Multiples organization. Florine served as an officer and member of the club for many years after her twins were raised and continued to read the newsletter faithfully until Alzheimer’s took the cherished gift of reading from her.
In addition to her four sons and their wives, Florine is survived by 10 grandchildren, six spouses of grandchildren, three great-granddaughters, nieces and nephews and their children, and a special caregiver, Ralph Madetko.
The Funeral Service was held Saturday, Nov. 13 at Grace Lutheran Church, Green Bay, with Rev. Julie Wrubbel-Lange officiating. Entombment is in the Shrine of the Good Shepherd Mausoleum.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established to benefit the Alzheimer’s Association.
The family wishes to offer deep thanks to the staff at Wyndemere and Unity Hospice. Wyndemere rekindled Florine’s will to live and provided her with two and a half years of daily happiness and comfort. Unity Hospice and the Wyndemere staff ensured that Florine’s passing from our midst was peaceful and without suffering.
Blaney Funeral Home, Green Bay, assisted the family. To send online condolences, please go to www.BlaneyFuneralHome.com.