Grace Louise Kapsy, age 95, of Gilman, passed away
peacefully on January 12, 2012, at her daughter’s
home in Elkhorn, Wisconsin, where she has resided
for the past 8 years. Grace was born in Chicago, IL on
April 8, 1916, to the late Elmer and Catherine
(Sullivan) Martin. Grace moved to Gilman with her
family at the age of 5 and later to the family farm in the
Town of Ford when construction was finished. She
attended Polly grade school and Glenbard HS,
Lombard, IL. She graduated with a teaching certificate
from Northern Illinois University, Dekalb, IL, June 2,
1937, specializing in Chemistry and Math.
Grace was united in marriage to Joseph Kapsy,
September 7, 1940 in Lombard, IL. They resided their
entire lives in Gilman, raising two daughters and a son.
Grace taught school in Hannibal, Sheldon and Gilman
School Districts, served as Gilman Village Clerk for
many years, and maintained the books for her
husband’s business, Royal Oil Company. Grace was
very active in the local community and Sts. Peter and
Paul Catholic Church, where she taught CCD for many
years and served as Eucharistic minister. For many
years she was the local and Deanery
secretary/treasurer for the Catholic Order of
Foresters. She was awarded the Pax Christi Medal, a
Catholic Action Award, by the Superior Diocese
Council of Catholic women for her service to the
Church and Diocese; this award is given to honor
those women who live their faith and are an example to
others.
peacefully on January 12, 2012, at her daughter’s
home in Elkhorn, Wisconsin, where she has resided
for the past 8 years. Grace was born in Chicago, IL on
April 8, 1916, to the late Elmer and Catherine
(Sullivan) Martin. Grace moved to Gilman with her
family at the age of 5 and later to the family farm in the
Town of Ford when construction was finished. She
attended Polly grade school and Glenbard HS,
Lombard, IL. She graduated with a teaching certificate
from Northern Illinois University, Dekalb, IL, June 2,
1937, specializing in Chemistry and Math.
Grace was united in marriage to Joseph Kapsy,
September 7, 1940 in Lombard, IL. They resided their
entire lives in Gilman, raising two daughters and a son.
Grace taught school in Hannibal, Sheldon and Gilman
School Districts, served as Gilman Village Clerk for
many years, and maintained the books for her
husband’s business, Royal Oil Company. Grace was
very active in the local community and Sts. Peter and
Paul Catholic Church, where she taught CCD for many
years and served as Eucharistic minister. For many
years she was the local and Deanery
secretary/treasurer for the Catholic Order of
Foresters. She was awarded the Pax Christi Medal, a
Catholic Action Award, by the Superior Diocese
Council of Catholic women for her service to the
Church and Diocese; this award is given to honor
those women who live their faith and are an example to
others.
For many years Grace was a devoted liaison for Plombon Funeral Service in Gilman, was always willing to give
someone a hand when needed, and was a very skilled seamstress, crotchetier and knitter. She enjoyed cooking
and baking, especially trying something new for dessert and spent many hours outside gardening, taking care of
her yard, and cultivating habitat for and feeding the wild birds. She was very proud of her Irish heritage. Her
grandchildren and great-grandchildren brought much joy to her, enjoying every minute spent with them.
Grace is survived by her daughters, Eloise Blenkush of Rochester, MN, and Sharon (Virgil) Wuttke of Elkhorn, WI,
three grandchildren: Suzanne (Jourdan) Schaffart, Woodbury, MN; Shannon (Glen) Eastman, Eau Claire, WI;
Nathan (Danielle) Blenkush, Attleboro, MA; 4 great-grandchildren: David Eastman, Madeleine, Liam and Abigail
Blenkush, brother, Vincent (Patricia) Martin of Canyon Lake, CA, and sister, Lorraine Centofante of Canyon Lake,
CA, plus many nieces, nephews, cousins & friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Joseph
in 1984, son, J. Dean in 2008, brother, Lt. Elmer Martin II, sister-in-laws ,Mary (John ) Skalecki, Angeline (Rusty)
Roback, bother-in-laws Casmier (Mary) Kapsy, and Steven (Ann) Kapsy. Memorials are requested to be given to
St.’s Peter & Paul Catholic Church of Gilman or the Village of Gilman Park fund. The family would also like to thank
Aurora Hospice Care for the wonderful care given to Grace.
Services will be held on Saturday, January 21, 2012 at 10:00 A.M. at St.‘s Peter & Paul Catholic Church, Gilman,
with Fr. John Long officiating. Burial will follow in Meadow Brook Cemetery. Friends and family may call on Friday
evening from 5-7 P.M at the Gilman Funeral Home with a 7:00 P.M. Prayer Service being recited.
someone a hand when needed, and was a very skilled seamstress, crotchetier and knitter. She enjoyed cooking
and baking, especially trying something new for dessert and spent many hours outside gardening, taking care of
her yard, and cultivating habitat for and feeding the wild birds. She was very proud of her Irish heritage. Her
grandchildren and great-grandchildren brought much joy to her, enjoying every minute spent with them.
Grace is survived by her daughters, Eloise Blenkush of Rochester, MN, and Sharon (Virgil) Wuttke of Elkhorn, WI,
three grandchildren: Suzanne (Jourdan) Schaffart, Woodbury, MN; Shannon (Glen) Eastman, Eau Claire, WI;
Nathan (Danielle) Blenkush, Attleboro, MA; 4 great-grandchildren: David Eastman, Madeleine, Liam and Abigail
Blenkush, brother, Vincent (Patricia) Martin of Canyon Lake, CA, and sister, Lorraine Centofante of Canyon Lake,
CA, plus many nieces, nephews, cousins & friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Joseph
in 1984, son, J. Dean in 2008, brother, Lt. Elmer Martin II, sister-in-laws ,Mary (John ) Skalecki, Angeline (Rusty)
Roback, bother-in-laws Casmier (Mary) Kapsy, and Steven (Ann) Kapsy. Memorials are requested to be given to
St.’s Peter & Paul Catholic Church of Gilman or the Village of Gilman Park fund. The family would also like to thank
Aurora Hospice Care for the wonderful care given to Grace.
Services will be held on Saturday, January 21, 2012 at 10:00 A.M. at St.‘s Peter & Paul Catholic Church, Gilman,
with Fr. John Long officiating. Burial will follow in Meadow Brook Cemetery. Friends and family may call on Friday
evening from 5-7 P.M at the Gilman Funeral Home with a 7:00 P.M. Prayer Service being recited.