Elaine Kathryne Leis, 93, of Sparta, Wisconsin, was born to Henry and Kathryn (Seitz) Leis on August 9, 1931. She passed away peacefully Monday, July 28, 2025, at Rolling Hills Nursing Home in Sparta Wisconsin.
Elaine was born with a quiet soul and the heart of a country girl which allowed her to enjoy the simple things in life. Growing up on a farm she loved all the animals - cats, dogs, cows, chickens, horses, rabbits, ducks. She attended Pine Hollow for her primary education and then Cashton High School for her secondary education, graduating in 1949.
Elaine spent the bulk of her working years as a dietary aide beginning her career at St. Francis Hospital in LaCrosse where she worked for seven years. She then worked at Rolling Hills Nursing Home in Sparta for 28 years until her retirement in 1994. For a few years after retirement, Elaine volunteered some of her time with residents at the Morrow Memorial Home.
While living and working in LaCrosse, Elaine had to walk a long distance to day to work every day. Over time she got tired of the long walk and found a college student to teach her to drive. This newfound freedom of driving allowed her to satisfy her curiosity and to be able to travel and see things she may have read about. Over time her and her sister, Ceclia, traveled to Hawaii, Nashville, and out West. In addition, she frequently traveled the local backroads to check on the farmers’ crops and hoping to see some farm animals.
Keeping in line with the simple things in life, Elaine enjoyed the simple pleasantries of taking walks [sometimes several a day], reading a variety of genres, making crafts, sewing on plastic canvas, visiting the city park to watch the ducks and geese, and taking drives through the country. In addition, she was a loyal and avid baseball fan, cheering for the Chicago Cubs since 1946.
She is survived by nieces and nephews, Ginny (Roy) Franz, Carol (Stan) Leis, Jerry (Karen) Leis, Marcia (Cal) Pickering, Leo (Ruth) Leis, Karen (Don) Semann, Julie Hemmersbach, David (Tammy) Leis, Allen (Sue) Leis, Randy (Brenda) Leis, Pam (Todd) Erickson, Kathryn (Edward) Marx, Mary Kay Leis, Douglas (Penny) Leis, Jennifer (Randy) Brueggen; as well as many more extended nieces and nephews.
Elaine was preceded in death by her parents, Henry and Kathryn; brothers and sisters-in-laws, Eugene and Luella, Floyd and Harriet, and Joseph and Ardella; sister, Cecelia; nephews, John Leis, Tom Leis.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Wednesday, August 6, 2025, 11:00 a.m. at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Sparta, WI. Family and friends are invited for visitation from 9:00 a.m. until the time of service at the church. After lunch at the church Elaine’s family and friends will escort Elaine on her final drive through the country to check on the all the crops and enjoy the scenery to her final resting place at Saint’s Peter & Paul Catholic Cemetery, Pine Hollow, rural Cashton.
Torkelson Funeral Home of Sparta is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be offered at www.torkelsonfuneralhome.com.
Torkelson Funeral Home
