Elaine H. Weller, Age 95, of Kenosha, Wisconsin, passed away on May 6, 2024, at Hospice House, Kenosha.
Born on March 30, 1929, in Waukegan, IL, she was the daughter of William Harkness and Charolette (Johnson) Harkness. She was raised in Waukegan, North Chicago and the Chain o’ Lakes region of Lake County IL. She was a stay-at-home care giver at an early age, taking care of many siblings and cousins through her childhood and into early adult hood.
She worked in the Restaurant Business in Lake County IL, supporting her husband in ownership, gaining many friends and loyal foodie fans along the way. She also worked as a telephone switchboard operator in Chicago IL for a time as a young adult.
In 1965 she married Lou Weller, a US Navy recruit, where they resided in Deleware, and Norfolk, VA before spending years stationed in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and Naples, Italy. Returning in 1974 they lived on the East Coast in Connecticut and Pennsylvania, before returning to the Lake County, IL area and shortly after, settling Kenosha in 1977. She joined Friedens Lutheran Church and became the beloved Lunch Director for the school for a number of years. She returned to The Adult Learning Center in her early 50’s for her High School education, followed by Gateway Technical Institute Kenosha, where she received her Associates Degree in Marketing before becoming a Realtor for Shoehl Reality and eventually ERA of Kenosha.
Of most importance to Elaine was her Christian Faith and Family. Throughout Elaine’s life she enjoyed golf, bowling, cooking, care giving, and more so her children’s activities, always supportive of both they and their friends in the majorette’s, sports, music, and their several outdoor interests. In Kenosha, she was known as the lady who brought her kid to fish Lake Michigan every morning before sunrise with the Senior crowd that gathered before Sunrise every morning on the Kenosha piers. She was also a regular on the Nightlife scene, known as the “Band Mom” to many, drinking 7up and supporting and all of her Son’s local or otherwise – Music endeavors. She never met a child, young adult or person in need, she would not help or love.
Elaine is survived by her children, Wanda (Holub) Mikels of Kenosha, Sheryl (Holub) Fries of CT, Lou Weller of Kenosha, Russ (Elsa) Weller of Kenosha. She is further survived by 13 grandchildren (Trina Holub, Teresa Pauwels (Brad), Tricia Holub, Jeff Mikels, Roberta Mikels Nieto, Sheri Rico (Al), Lynette Nadeau (Al), Janine Lipinski, Joshua Grabowski, Darrin Weller, Danielle Weller, Elizabeth Gorr, Aaron Pfaff (Elana) and 13 great-grandchildren (Amber, Kaylan, Janel, Angela, Aaron, Juliana, Jordan, Brittney, Jeffery, Darrin Jr, Aliza, Leland, Hallie) and several great, great-grandchildren, including Ariana, Aubree, Jaxson, Antonio of Kenosha.
Elaine was preceded in death by her son Keith “Butch” Holub in 2000, her grand daughter Yvonne Jehnings in 1996, her brother’s William “Dewey” Harkness, Robert Harkness, and her parents William and Charolette Harkness (Johnson).
Funeral Services will be held on Wednesday, May 15th at First Christian Church in Kenosha, 13022 Wilmot Road Kenosha, WI 53142. Visitation with the family will be held from 4-6pm with the service to follow. A private Christian Burial will follow on Thursday for the family at Sunset Ridge Memorial Park.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made payable to William Weller and received at First Christian Church 13022 Wilmot Road, Kenosha WI 53142, with sincere appreciation.
