Christine Clare Zakraisek, 102 ½ , dies

Christine Clare Zakraisek, 102 ½ , of Bloomington, MN, formerly of Alhambra, CA and Ely, passed away peacefully at home Saturday, June 18, 2016.
She was born December 13, 1913 in Ely to Anton and Theresa (Berlec) Zakrajshek and grew up with her eight siblings on the family farm in Greaney, MN. She enjoyed high school years in Ely. After nine years in Des Moines, IA doing office work, having studied comptometry, she traveled West for war work in Las Vegas, NV offices of the magnesium mining operations new Boulder Dam and in Vernon, CA offices of the Naval Repair Station inventorying damaged American WWII equipment. On August 6, 1945, she had her final communication with her fiance’ just prior to his return ship departure back to the U.S. Hundreds aboard were lost at sea. She never married.
The following 12 years she partnered in an Alhambra, CA merchandise sales and repair business selling the first appliances made after the war, including the G.E. refrigerator, Maytag clothes washer, Magnavox television. In 1957, she began a 28 year employment as a human resource officer at the Broadway Service Building in L.A. Her retirement years found her maintaining her yard of fruit trees and flowering bushes immaculately while caring for many pets, turtles to macaws, frequently restoring injured drop-offs by neighbors. She was a devoted member of her Catholic faith community at All Souls Church.
Returning to Minnesota in 2011, still active and vital, living with her niece, she enjoyed three feline companions, outdoor yard work and indoor orchids and African violets. On December 13, 2015, Christine celebrated her 102nd birthday with friends and family, remaining active enjoying life until slowing down a month ago.
Christine was preceded in death by her parents Anton and Theresa, her brothers Tony, Joe and Albin and her sisters, Theresa Pryor, Leona Zakrajshek, Mary Timperly, Genevieve Sutton and Frances Dusich. She is survived by numerous nieces/nephews, great nieces/nephews and great, great nieces/nephews. A memorial service of Christian burial will be held in Ely, Minnesota this summer.