Waunita M. Fradette, age 98, died on March 4, 2014 at Maplewood of Sauk Prairie. She was born in her parents' home on September 9, 1915. Waunita was the oldest of the three children of Una (Jacklin) Kuhl and Gus Kuhl, who farmed in Clark County, Wisconsin, just outside of Neillsville. Waunita began school early because the teacher lived at her parents' home, and Waunita just didn't want to wait. She excelled in school, and skipped several grades, graduating from high school at 15. She went to college for a brief time, but returned home to look after her younger sister and brother when her mother died at an early age.


She worked at the local bank in Neillsville for a time, and then worked for the county clerk, James Fradette, whose son Mack was an elementary school teacher. Mack and Waunita were married in 1939. Mack was also in the National Guard, and was called to duty in World War II. Mack trained in Louisiana, and Waunita joined him there for a time. Their first daughter, Charlotte, was born in 1942 when Mack was fighting in the Philippines. He came home on leave in early 1945, and in October of that year their second daughter Annalee was born. Following his discharge, the family moved to Sauk City, where Mack worked for the Conservation Department, now the DNR.


In 1950 Mack was recalled by the Army for service in the Korean Conflict. The family spent the summer in Missouri while Mack trained at Fort Leonard Wood. He went to Camp Zama in Japan, and in the spring of 1951 the family was told that they could join him in Japan, so Waunita packed up her household goods and together with her two daughters left for Japan. She studied flower arranging and oil painting with Japanese teachers, led Girl Scouts in the housing area where they lived, worked as a Gray Lady volunteer in the Army hospital, went with the girls to the top of Mount Fuji, and generally enjoyed the 15 months they spent in Japan. They returned to Sauk City in November of 1953. Their daughter Mary was born in 1954.


During her years in Sauk City, Waunita worked as librarian, secretary for Atty. Robert Straub, secretary to Village Administrator Hugh Heiney, Girl Scout leader, secretary at Waunakee High School, and part-time worker for Spellman Monument Company. For the last 13 years of Mack's life, Waunita was his caregiver following a series of strokes.


Waunita was a caring member of First United Church of Christ for 67 years, a helpful neighbor to many, President of the Hospital Auxiliary during the fundraising effort for the first hospital, and an inspiration to her family. Her interest in and love for her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren was deep and abiding. She leaves her three daughters, their nine children, and 15 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband Mack, her parents, her sister Marion, her brother Darrell, two great-grandchildren, other relatives and many friends.


A funeral service will be held at FIRST UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST, Sauk City, at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 8, 2014 with Pastor Bill Kapp officiating. Visitation will be held at the church from 3:30 p.m. until the time of service. A light supper will follow in the church basement. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorial gifts may be made to First United Church of Christ, the Sauk City Library, or Sauk Prairie Memorial Hospital.


The family wishes to thank the staff members at Sauk Prairie Memorial Hospital and Maplewood of Sauk Prairie for their cheerful and sensitive care of Waunita when she was a patient, with special thanks to Dr. Tom Varley and Dr. Sandy Shah.

GONE FROM MY SIGHT by Henry van Dyke....
I am standing upon the seashore. A ship, at my side, spreads her white sails to the moving breeze and starts for the blue ocean. She is an object of beauty and strength. I stand and watch her until, at length, she hangs like a speck of white cloud just where the sea and sky come to mingle with each other. Then, someone at my side says, "There, she is gone." Gone where? Gone from my sight. That is all. She is just as large in mast, hull and spar as she was when she left my side. And, she is just as able to bear her load of living freight to her destined port. Her diminished size is in me-not in her. And just at the moment when someone says, "There, she is gone," there are other eyes watching her coming, and other voices ready to take up the glad shout, "Here she comes!" And that is dying. Death comes in its own time, in its own way. Death is as unique as the one experiencing it.