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IN MEMORY

B. Louise "Lou" Martin (Zelenski) - Class Of 1951

Bertha L. "Lou" Zelenski, a former Worthy Grand Matron of the Order of the Eastern Star Wisconsin Grand Chapter, died on December 14, 2012, at Hospice House in Pleasant Prairie.

Born September 11, 1933, in Kenosha, she was the daughter of the late Ernest and Hattie (Ricke) Martin.

A life-long resident of Kenosha, she attended Friedens Evangelical Lutheran School and graduated from Mary D. Bradford High School.  She attended Gateway Technical College and was highly regarded for her involvement in the development of the first Legal Secretarial Course at the School.

Lou married Howard F. Zelenski on August 18, 1956, at Friedens Evangelical Lutheran Church, in Kenosha.

Lou enjoyed a successful career. She worked as an Executive Secretary for several major corporations; as a Legal Secretary for Attorney Lucien J. Piery and as a Paralegal for the law offices of Heide, Hartley, Thom, Wilk & Guttormsen.  She was a charter member of the National Association of Legal Assistants and the Kenosha Legal Secretaries' Association, of which she was a past President.

She was an active member of Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church and served as Treasurer for several years.

Lou was a Past Matron of Kenosha Chapter 92 and Bristol Chapter 164 Order of Eastern Star. She served as Grand Chaplain and was elected Worthy Grand Matron of the Eastern Star Wisconsin Grand Chapter in 1982.  She was a member of VFW Auxiliary 1865 for more than 50 years and served as President of the J.U.S. Club in 1965.

She was active as a Guardian for several seniors and a loyal Green Bay Packers fan.  Her other interests included handcrafts and playing pinochle with her family and friends.

Lou is survived by her husband of 56 years, Howard Zelenski; a sister, Violet Desotell and brothers, Leslie (Florence) Martin of Leesburg, FL and Elmer (Cam) Martin of Minocqua; two nieces who she thought of as daughters, Deborah (Martin) Metten and Doris (Michael) Carney along with several other loving nieces and nephews.

Along with her parents, she was preceded in death by her infant son, Jeff Alan Zelenski; her sister, Helen Barndollar Nimmerguth; brothers:  Laurence E. Martin, William Martin and Herbert Martin; a niece, Diane Martin and a great nephew, David Barndollar.

A Memorial Service celebrating "Lou's" legacy will be held on Thursday, January 3, 2013. O.E.S. Chapter 92 will conduct services at 7:00PM at the Piasecki-Althaus Funeral Home.  A memorial service will follow.  Private inurnment will be at Sunset Ridge Memorial Park. Relatives and friends may meet with the family on Thursday, January 3, 2013, from 5:00PM until 7:00PM at the funeral home.

It was extremely important to Lou that following her death, she acknowledge with much love and appreciation, her friend Dr. Joshua Bloom, for nineteen years of friendship and dedicated care.

In lieu of flowers, memorials to Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church (7104 39th Ave., Kenosha, WI 53142) or Hospice Alliance, Inc. (10220 Prairie Ridge Blvd., Pleasant Prairie, WI 53158) would be appreciated.