Claudine Waschak

Claudine M. Waschak of Louisville passed away Thursday morning, July 5, 2018. Claudine was born to Claude and Emma Mae (Sellers) Hill on November 22, 1923, in the farmhouse where the family lived in Arcadia, Kansas. The family moved to the Eastern plains of Colorado near Simla when she was 6 months old. She attended school in a one room schoolhouse from 1st through 8th grades.

The family's lives were changed forever in August of 1933 when a flash flood swept through their home and land taking their mother when she was 9 years old. Those times right after the dust bowl and depression became even harder.

She moved closer into town and worked for her room and board so she could finish high school. She graduated from Simla High School in 1940 at the age of 16. During her senior year she worked for the school principal. He told her she would make a good secretary someday having no idea how prophetic that statement would be.

Immediately after graduating high school she moved to Denver and went to work for a couple in their room and boarding house. She worked various other jobs waiting tables at Comb's Air Field and Reese House, one of the first restaurants with curb side service. She was working there on December 7, 1941, when she heard of the attack on Pearl Harbor. Her next job was at Remington Arms, an ammunition factory, that opened to support the war effort, and that is where she met the love of her life, John Waschak.

Their dates consisted of dancing to the big bands every night of the week and on Sunday afternoons. They were united in marriage on June 4, 1943, at St. Louis Catholic Church in Louisville.

After the birth of her children she worked at various jobs on Main Street in Louisville including that of a telephone operator until the dial telephone system came to town, at Thomas' grocery store and Public Service Company of Colorado. She then began working in the Boulder Valley Public School system from 1966 through 1986 at various jobs throughout the district retiring from the position of secretary to the principal of Louisville Middle School.

She continued to enjoy dancing until she lost her husband of 67 1/2 years, embroidering baby crib quilts for her four great grandsons and one great-great grandson, family vacations, family history and all things family.

Claudine was preceded in death by her parents, her beloved husband, John, three older sisters, and two younger brothers. Those left to cherish her memory are her daughter, Shirley Kay Elrod and her husband, Duane; son, Roger Waschak and Marjean; grandsons, John Elrod (Jamie), Chris Elrod (Jeannette), Kurt Waschak (Amee); granddaughter, Amy Deborski (Scott); great grandsons, Blake Elrod (Andrea), Alex Waschak, Renzo Waschak, and Stone Deborski; and great-great grandson, Landen Elrod.

The funeral mass will take place at St. Louis Catholic Church, 902 Grant Ave., Louisville, CO 80027 at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, July 11. The rosary will be recited preceding mass at 9:30 a.m. Interment will follow at Louisville Cemetery.

Donations can be made in Claudine's name to St. Louis Catholic Church or to the charity of your choice.

Heritage Funeral & Cremation Services of Lafayette is handling arrangements.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Claudine Waschak, please visit our floral store.