Grace I. Salathe, age 91, of Darlington, WI, passed peacefully to her eternal home, surrounded by her family, on Saturday, September 29, 2018, at Sienna Crest Assisted Living. She was born on September 23, 1927, in Lafayette County, WI, the daughter of Lester and Ruth (Wilson) McConnell. She attended Van Matre rural school and graduated from Darlington High School in 1945. She attended Madison Business College and completed the secretarial and accounting program in 1947. She was employed in the Business Office of the Wisconsin Telephone Company in Madison until 1949. On February 12, 1949, she was united in marriage to Harry Salathe at the Immanuel United Church of Christ in Darlington. They lived in Twin Grove, WI for two years and later farmed in Lamont Township for 25 years. Grace was employed at the Barnard Law Office for several years. They moved to Willow Springs Township in 1976. Grace was employed at Lafayette County Human Services from 1967 until 1991. After retiring, she volunteered in the records department at Memorial Hospital of Lafayette County for 16 years.
Grace is survived by her seven children: Larry (Andy) Salathe of Selbyville, DE, Linda Connolly of Hammond, IN, Diane (Rich) Mulcahy of Monroe, WI, Nancy (Steve) Slama of Darlington, Marcia (Tom) O’Rourke of Brodhead, WI, Julie (Tim) Shager of South Wayne, WI, and Mark (Bernadine) Salathe of Darlington; two sisters-in-law: Esther McConnell of Monroe, WI, and Mary (Jerry) Leahy of Darlington; one brother- in-law: Walter (Buck) Salathe of Durand, IL; 16 grandchildren, and 20 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Harry; two granddaughters: Melissa O’Rourke and Therese Indra; one great-granddaughter in infancy: Grace Mulcahy; one brother: Elwood McConnell; three sisters: Marion Schwartz, June Bartels, and Dorothy Sauer; and four brothers- in-law: Ernie Salathe, Dick Sauer, Murray Schwartz and Irv Bartels.
Grace was a member of Immanuel United Church of Christ in Darlington and its Women’s Guild. She served on the church council as the secretary and treasurer, as well as the financial secretary of the church, and was a choir member. She enjoyed watching the Packers and Badgers, playing cards, singing with her sisters and brother, gardening and making trips “West”. Hosting her family on Sundays and holidays brought her the greatest enjoyment. Grace will be sadly missed and fondly remembered by all who knew her.
A funeral service will be held Friday, October 5, 2018, at 11:00 A.M. at Immanuel United Church of Christ (339 E. Louisa Street, Darlington) with Rev. Barbara Brakey officiating. Burial will be at Union Grove Cemetery in Darlington. A visitation will be Thursday, Oct. 4, 2018, from 4:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M. at Erickson Funeral Home (508 Park Place) and on Friday from 10:00 A.M. until 10:45 A.M. at the church. Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.ericksonfuneralhome.com.
For those who prefer, a memorial has been established in Grace’s name.
The family would like to give a special thank you to the staff at Sienna Crest and Upland Hills Hospice.
