Eleanor Louise Kahres Witkowski

Whitkowski, Eleanor Kahres age 75 of Largo Florida died Tuesday September 21, 2010 at her residence. She moved to Florida with her husband Barney in January 1983. Ellie was born in Lansing, MI on the Kahres Dairy Farms to Martin and Esther Kahres and graduated from E.W. Sparrow School of Nursing in Lansing, MI. She further studied at other colleges and universities. Her career began in Michigan at Traverse City’s Munson Hospital then to Wyandotte General Hospital working her way up from her favorite departments; surgery and E.R., to various nursing and hospital administrative positions retiring in 1982. In the 1960s she became Assistant Director of Nursing then Acting Director of Nursing Services for a period of time. A special position was created for Ellie in the 1970s as Administrative Assistant to the CEO and Vice Presidents to work as a liaison between all hospital departments and architects to construct a new hospital building. She worked closely with purchasing agents and interior designers. Ellie developed then taught procedures to hospital personnel how to use the newly installed systems. She coordinated each department’s move, with their services and patients, into the new structure. In 1974, Ellie became the manager of a computerized multiphase health testing center at Wyandotte General Hospital. She was an active church member serving of the trustee board and finance committee of Wyandotte’s First Congregational United Church of Christ. She was their blood bank chairman, active in the Rebecca Circle and a founding member of the M & M’s (Mr. and Mrs. Group). She loved animals, nature, art, music and studying cultures of foreign lands. She played the piano, accordion, trombone and organ. Barney and Ellie have traveled to more than 46 countries and 21 states. In 1968, they took a two month trip around-the-world. She was an artist working mostly in watercolor, acrylic and oil mediums. Crocheting, knitting and swimming were also avid hobbies. In later years the home computer consumed many of her quiet hours. Ellie’s organizations included: Michigan’s Ingham County 4-H Club, Edward W. Sparrow Hospital Alumni Association of Lansing MI, past president for the Downriver Nurses Assoc. of Wyandotte MI, American Nurses Assoc, National League of Nursing, National Occupational Hearing Assoc, Order of Eastern Star Lodge 370 in Wyandotte MI, SITA Around-The-World Club, Eight Point Lake Property Owner’s Assoc in Lake MI, First Congregational Church U.C.C. of Wyandotte MI, St. John’s Episcopal Church of Clearwater FL, Fairway Village Triangle Club of Largo FL, American Association of Retired Persons, Florida Gulf Coast Art Center of Belleair FL, Federation of Mobile Home Owners of FL, Secretary of the Microcomputer User Group Computer Club of Largo FL, and Tampa Bay Computer Society of Pinellas County FL. She is preceded in death by her dear husband Barney F. Witkowski. Survivors include a brother Marlow Kahres (Joyce) of Holt, MI., a sister CheeChee Hanes (Dick) of Vista, CA, sister-in-law Harriet Matwiejczyk (Hank) of Largo FL. She is also survived by several nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held on Monday September 27th at 2 pm at Moss Feaster Funeral Home 13401 Indian Rocks Road in Largo. Public visitation hours will also be held Monday from 1 pm until service time. Interment will follow the service in Serenity Gardens Memorial Park Lakeside Chapel Mausoleum.