Genevieve Nickelsen

Racine- Genevieve Nickelsen, 97, passed away Sunday, July 15, 2012 at Wheaton Franciscan All Saints Medical Center. Genevieve was born in Milwaukee on January 1, 1915, daughter of Rudy and Ida Braun. Her family moved to Racine when she was a small child. Genevieve attended Lincoln Elementary School, McKinley Junior High School and Horlick High School. She graduated from Horlick in 1932. While at Horlick, she participated extensively in the Girls Athletic Association. She also was a member of the National Honor Society. Genevieve studied at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. She majored in anatomy and physiology and received her Bachelor of Science Degree in 1936. She received her Master of Science Degree from the University in 1937. While her fiancé John, whom she met while they were students at McKinley, studied for his MD degree at the University of Minnesota, Genevieve worked at the University. John and Genevieve were married in St. Paul, Minnesota in 1941. During John's service in the war, Genevieve was a war bride, living at her parent's home on Taylor Avenue, and raising their first child, Nick. Following John's discharge, they moved to their home on Center Street, where Genevieve worked as a stay at home mom, having given birth to her second child, Pat. From 1954 through 1963, Genevieve worked for the Racine Recreation Department as a supervisor of after-school recreation and the summer playground program. While with the Recreation Department, she designed and established Racine's first senior-citizens programs – the Golden Age Club, which met at Douglas Park Community Center and the Happy Hours Club which met at Lakeview Community Center. She also was active in community center pre-school programs. From 1963 through1964, Genevieve worked for the Racine Unified School District as a physical education teacher at Washington Junior High School. Genevieve and John enjoyed travel. In their retirement years, they traveled throughout Wisconsin, the United States, and the world. She, like John enjoyed music, especially performances of the Racine Symphony Orchestra. Genevieve had great love for her family. She is survived by her daughter and son in-law Pat Fitzgerald and Roger Glodowski; her son and daughter in law John and Judy (Koteskey) Nickelsen; four grandchildren – Inga Glodowski (Jason Hershberger) and Christopher Glodowski; Andy (Michelle) Nickelsen and Matt Nickelsen. She is also survived by nine great grand children – Drew, Jaden, Matthew, Myles, Gianna, Luke, Brooke, Ajax and Zachary. Private gravesite funeral services will be held Saturday, July 21, John Fleming officiating. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to the American Macular Degeneration Foundation.

Genevieve Nickelsen

January 1, 1915 - July 15, 2012