Alvina Szews Obituary

Alvina Szews

Alvina A. Szews, 86, Wausau, formerly of Birnamwood, died Saturday, December 13, 2014 at Mt. View Care Center, Wausau.

She was born on April 5, 1928 in Hatley, the daughter of the late Henry and Mary (Lepak) Platta.

Alvina graduated from the Birnamwood High School in 1945. After building a home on Mayflower Lake, she was united in marriage to Leonard Szews on June 18, 1955 at St. Florian Catholic Church, Hatley. He preceded her in death on March 23, 1987.

Alvina was a member of the Mayflower 59'ers Homemakers Club. Leonard and Alvina built another home in Birnamwood where she lived for 26 years before moving to Wausau.

After raising her family, Alvina drove a mini-school bus for the Wittenberg-Birnamwood School District for 21 years, retiring in 1990. She organized the first committee in planning a 15 year class reunion for the 1945 class.

Alvina was very active in volunteer work as a member of the Wausau YMCA, where she had been a pool exercise instructor for the AOA (Active Older Adults) for many years and Drifting Dolphins Lunch groups. She sang with the Wausau Senior Citizens Choir and belonged to the Wausau Area Senior Citizens Organization, serving as a trustee on the Board. She also served as a trustee for the Catholic Knights Financial Insurance Society, was a member of the Wausau Catholic Women's Club, St. Michael's Rosary Society, a charter member of the Kraft Foods Quarter Century Club and volunteered for the Aspirus Festival of Trees. She also was a blood donor for the Birnamwood Blood Bank for many years.

Alvina bowled in Birnamwood and Wausau, enjoyed country line dancing and polka dancing. She danced the Polish Hop even in her later years. She also enjoyed watching Packer games.

Alvina was also an avid traveler, visiting many European countries including a trip to Poland, Alaska, Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii and many islands on cruise trips.

Her hobbies were embroidering, knitting afghans, making prayer shawls for Aspirus Hospital, reading and joining friends for breakfast or lunch.

Survivors include two daughters, Mary (Eric) Soderlund, Wausau and Denise (Gary) Severson, Nekoosa; one son, Christopher (Vicki) Szews, Zimmerman, MN; eight grandchildren, triplets, Laura Soderlund, Eau Claire, Lenn Soderlund, Madison, Lydia (Alex) Dawson, Hanover Park, IL, Jill (Paul Bastman) Severson, Arvada, CO, Kyle Severson, Bloomington, MN, and Courtney Szews, Minneapolis, MN, Hailey Szews, Duluth, MN, Addie Szews, Columbia, MO; one great-grandchild on the way and her sister, Carol (Jim) Brounacker, Hatley. She is also survived by many cousins, nieces, nephews and other relatives.

The Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 12noon on Friday, December 19, 2014 at St. Florian Catholic Church, Hatley. Fr. Roy Witucki will officiate. Interment will be in the parish cemetery. Visitation will take place on Friday from 10am until the time of the service at the church. Per Alvina's request, she will have a closed casket. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the American Heart Association or St. Florian Catholic Church, in Alvina's name. Schmidt & Schulta Funeral Home, Wittenberg is assisting the family with arrangements. Condolences and memories may be shared at schmidtschulta.com.