Josephine Vanderschaegen

APPLETON, Wis. — Josephine Vanderschaegen, formerly of Hurley, passed away on March 13, 2013.

Josephine was born on Oct. 31, 1918, in Ironwood, Mich., and was raised there, too. Her parents were Anton and Antonia Skowronski (both deceased), both born and from Watcloviak, Poland.

She was married to Clarence Vanderschaegen of Iron Belt on July 27, 1940, by the Rev. Paul Boshold at St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Saxon. They eventually moved to Hurley in June 1953, where they purchased their home on Maple Street.

Josephine attended old North Side Central Grade School, George N. Sleight Grade School and Luther L. Wright High School, all in Ironwood. She graduated in 1937.

Josephine belonged to St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Ironwood and later St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Hurley. She belonged to the Polish National Alliance, Iron County VFW Ladies Auxiliary Post 1580, and Military Order of the Cooties Auxiliaries. She held the position of historian, which she loved and enjoyed, for the local and district VFW Auxiliary for many years. Josephine also held the secretarial position for the VFW Auxiliary for many years. In doing so, she received numerous awards/citations of merit and personal gifts for her chairman activities.

Josephine also helped Sister Cecila of St. Mary’s Church as a choir aide and chaperone for more than seven years. Sister Cecila gave her a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary in honor of her years of service and dedication.

Surviving are two sons, Richard (Robin) Vanderschaegen, of Woodruff, and Donald (Mary) Vanderschaegen, of Thorp; three daughters, Diane Fabbri, of Appleton, Doreen Lynch, of Oshkosh, and Corinne Jankowski, of Fairbanks, Alaska. Josephine also has 18 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; and a daughter-in-law, Carol Vanderschaegen of Waukesha. She has one surviving sister, Frances Charbonneau, of Hurley.

Preceding Josephine in death were her husband, Clarence; her son, Dennis Vanderschaegen; five brothers, John, Stanley, Aloysius, Chester and Private Leonard, who died in service on March 15, 1945, during the Battle of the Bulge, France, during World War II; and two sisters, Regina DeMario and Mary Harvey.

She enjoyed writing very much, working in the garden, playing cards, visiting her children and grandchildren. She remembered the veterans in the Veterans Administration hospitals by collecting and mailing gifts to them from herself and members of the VFW Auxiliary. She assisted at bingo parties as a clown in the local nursing homes with the Cootie Auxiliary. She loved her polka music and country western music and more so loved dancing to the music.

There will be a private memorial service for Josephine in Appleton.

She will be buried in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Hurley.

Online condolences may be expressed at wichmannfargo.com. Wichmann Funeral Home, 537 N. Superior St., Appleton, is assisting the family.