Evelyn Nirschl

Evelyn ‘Chick’ Nirschl, age 89, passed away peacefully in the early morning hours of Monday, November 9, 2015 at Cherry Meadows Hospice, Peabody Manor.  She danced her last waltz, said goodbye to her family, and left to join her family and friends who had gone before her.  She hoped to stop at the Rainbow Bridge to greet her four-legged and feathered companions, and then begin her new eternal life.  Through the years our mother told us and we learned the following-

She was born to Stanislaus and Sophia Dziedzic on February 21, 1926 in Milwaukee.  She grew up there, attended Oklahoma Avenue Primary School, St. Gerard Catholic Elementary School, and Pulaski High School.  When she was about 5 years old, her Father bought her a stand-up piano and she took lessons until she left for college.  She played and sang at many recitals, concerts, and weddings, singing Ave Maria.  Her big accomplishment was playing Chopin’s Polanaise.  In high school, she was active in the swim club, drama group, and school newspaper, girl’s glee club, cheerleading team, and athletics.  Her summers were spent lifeguarding and teaching swimming to many children.  She attended La Crosse State Teacher’s College, where she majored in Physical Education and minored in Speech and English.  She was active in many sports, the water ballet swim club, reporter for the college newspaper for 4 years, and the year book, which she edited her Senior Year.  In the drama club, Silver Masque, she appeared in many productions, was a stage hand, and was in the Alpha Psi Omega Drama Fraternity and a member of the Sigma Lamda Sigma Sorority.  In her senior year Chick was awarded membership in “Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities.” 

She met Jim Nirschl when he returned from 3 ½ years in the Navy to attend La Crosse State Teacher’s College.  When she graduated in 1947, she taught two years of Physical Education at South Park Junior High School in Oshkosh, along with conducting a dance group in Creative and Modern Dance and an Intermural Sports program.  On June 18, 1949, she married Jim, returned to La Crosse to teach at La Crosse Central High School while  Jim finished college until they expected their first child, Matthew.  They came to Kimberly, where Jim began his career as physical education teacher and coach, then later became athletic director.  Chick became a mother of 6 children and a homemaker, until their youngest child, Andrew, was 4.  She then taught part-time at Kimberly, Combined Locks, Freedom, and Kaukauna, where she taught 16 years-all part time-so that she could be home as 6 children grew up.  She began a dance group in physical education class, then as an extra-curricular, then as a troupe, performing in concerts.  She was a member of the Wisconsin Dance Council and co-authored the Dance Curriculum Guide for Wisconsin schools and other programs, along with conducting workshops at many schools, especially enjoying working with the special arts at Green Bay and elsewhere.  After assisting in girl’s track for two years at Kaukauna, she left in 1982 to coach track in Kimberly and volunteered, conducting Creative Dance classes at Holy Angels School, choreographing and directing dance productions, and Christmas programs with all classes throughout those years.

Another joy in Chick’s life were the animals her family nurtured and her volunteer work at the Fox Valley Humane Association for many years, where she worked with cat care and adoptions and the education program, where she traveled to schools teaching children how to care for animals.  She took children and teachers on tours and programs at the Shelter where Mary Beth Nienhaus funded the Children’s Learning Center in her name.  Chick was the first woman Eucharistic Minister and Lector and trained Altar Servers and Sacristans, as well as adult ministers at Holy Angels Parish.

We, her husband and children, were the love of her life.  She shared many wonderful moments with her family, special friends, and animals, who filled her life and memories.  Those in her life were husband Jim, who predeceased her by 24 days, children: son Matthew, (Cindy) Nirschl, daughter Patti, (Ron) Lee-Crawford , daughter Jane, (Fred) Laitinen, daughter Anna Marie Hannemann, son Andrew, (Jennifer) Nirschl, son James Paul Nirschl (preceded her in death); grandchildren Jimmy Naccaratto, Ben (Cathy) Nirschl, Abraham Nirschl, Samantha Nirschl, John Laitinen, and Taylor Nirschl; great granddaughters Kimberly and Natalie (daughters of Ben and Cathy); Brother Gene Dziedzic, wife Shirley and their children; children of deceased brother Robert and wife Ella; sister Arlene Neelsen and family; sister Patricia O’Loughlin and her husband Jim and their family; children of deceased sister Juanita and deceased husband John Rasmann. 

There is no way to mention all of her wonderful friends who helped her in many ways-Mary Beth Nienhaus; caregiver, Bobbie Hirst; wonderful neighbors, Randersons and Stoegbauers, always helping and encouraging us, Dr. Van Lieshout,  Sisters Elise and Annette, thoughtful friends and advisors; soul mate Margaret Hardacker, now deceased, was like a sister through many years.

Chick asked forgiveness from anyone she has hurt or offended in her life.

Memorial services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 21, 2015, at Holy Spirt Parish, Holy Angels Church, W2796 Hwy KK, Darboy, with Fr. Patrick O’Loughlin officiating. Visitation will be at the church on Saturday from 9:00 a.m. until the time of the Mass. Interment will be in Holy Angels Cemetery. For online condolences, please visit www.verkuilenfh.com. 

 Service Information