Eleanor Marian (Carlson) McKenzie “Snookie” was born September 2nd, 1924 to Harold and Ella (Fischer) Carlson in Lewis, WI. When she was born, her grandpa Charlie Carlson said that is “Little Snookie” which in Swedish the meaning is “Swedish Beauty”. She was so small she could fit in a shoebox – this is how her nickname came about and stuck with her all her life. She was the first born grandchild on the Carlson side and also on the Fischer side. Her heritage of Swede and Dane was very important to her.
She went to Lewis grade school and to Sunday school in the Methodist church where she sang in the choir, helped with Sunday school, and waitressed for the Harvest Suppers. She graduated from Frederic High School in 1943 and then started working at Hagberg’s Store in Frederic where she worked for 5 years.
In 1948 she and Earl McKenzie of Milltown were married and were dairy farmers for 30 years. She was an avid bowler and also played horseshoes. She was confirmed and baptized in the Milltown Lutheran Church.
In 1978 they sold the farm because of Earl’s health and built a home on Breezy Bay at Half Moon Lake. They lived here until 1998 and then moved to the hobby farm at South Milltown. A few years after Earl’s death, she moved into the Hometown Apartments in Milltown where she lived until the time of her death at age 93.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Ella and Harold; her husband of 65 years, Earl; loving son, Douglas; brothers, Harold Carlson “Buzzy” and wife Merlyn, Alton Carlson “Bud” and wife Norma; brothers-in-law, Thomas Lemieux and Chuck Svoboda.
She is survived by son, Dennis (Connie); daughters, Earlene (Archie), Audrey (Terry); sisters, LaVone Svoboda, Elaine Lemieux; grandchildren, Lisa, Sarah, Jason, Stephen (Allison), Christa (Justin), Angela, Jennifer (Matt), Melissa (Rob), Brittany, Nicholas, and Benjamin; great-grandchildren, Caitlyn (Derek), Alexis, Shayla, Rayna, Brandon, Chase, Dillon, Brady, Kelsey, Olivia, Austin, Eleanor (named after her great-grandma), Evelyn, Maxwell, Samuel, and Jackson; great-great-grandchildren, Carina, Kali, Oliver, Kinzlie; Godchildren, Paula Jean Ohlander, Susan Buck; several nieces, nephews, cousins and many friends.
Memorial services will be held at Milltown Lutheran Church with Rev. Angie Kutney officiating on Monday, April 2nd, 2018 – visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m. followed by the service at 11:00 a.m. Interment will be held at a later date at Milltown Cemetery.
You are invited to leave condolences, memories and photos at
www.rowefh.com . Arrangements are entrusted to Rowe Funeral Home in Luck, 715-472-2444 and the Northwest Wisconsin Cremation Center in Milltown,
www.wicremationcenter.com .
