Elaine M. Obradovich

Elaine graduated from Robert Lindblom Technical High School in Chicago in January, 1940, where she was an excellent student, and was active in extracurricular activities. For her accomplishments, she was awarded the "Golden Eagle Letter", the first such Letter awarded to a female student at Lindblom High School. She ranked second in her graduating class, and delivered the "Faculty Address" at her class's graduation ceremony. Elaine furthered her education at Chicago's Evangelical Hospital, training to become a registered nurse. An "only child", Elaine had no brothers who could serve in World War II. Elaine enlisted in the U.S. Army Nurse Corps. During World War II, she was assigned to the 20th General Hospital in Ledo, Assam, India, located on the border with Burma. While serving as a registered nurse at the 20th General Hospital, Elaine met her future husband who was a patient there, Capt. Francis S. Obradovich. Francis was a U.S. Army officer (Corps of Engineers) assigned in Burma to the construction of the Ledo Road. Elaine achieved the rank of 1st Lieutenant by the end of World War II. She continued her work with wounded U.S. military personnel at Vaughan General Hospital, Hines, Illinois after the War. Of her nursing duties for service personnel, Elaine said, "I did my best as a nurse, but sometimes it wasn't good enough." Elaine grieved for patients who died in her care.

Elaine married Francis in Tucson, AZ in 1946, where Francis was in graduate school at the University of Arizona. Shortly after their marriage, the Army recruited Francis back into military service to work on a number of engineering projects, including the construction of an airstrip on Cornwallis Island at Resolute Bay in Canada's Northwest Territories above the Arctic Circle. Elaine cared for their two sons during the Korean War. Francis saw active duty in the Korean War, including as company commander of C Company, 185th Engineer (Combat) Battalion at the Chosin Reservoir encirclement; and, in the Vietnam War in II Corps, where he was exposed to Agent Orange. Francis retired from the U.S. Army in 1967 at the rank of Lt. Colonel.

In the 1970s, Elaine was employed as a registered nurse in what was then known as North District Hospital in Broward County, FL; and, as a nurse in private practice in Pompano Beach, FL. For many years, Elaine also nursed Francis for the effects of Agent Orange until his death from that toxin in 2012. Francis' cremated remains are buried at Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia. Elaine's son, James, was a professional baseball player. James served in the U.S. Army in Germany in the 1970s. James also died in 2012. He is buried at Camp Nelson National Cemetery near Nicholasville, KY. Elaine is survived by James' widow, Nioma B. Obradovich, of Garrard County, Kentucky; and by son, David J. Obradovich (Mary Katherine Daugherty) of Punta Gorda, Florida.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 65 years, Francis S. Obradovich; and her son, James, aged 62. Consistent with Elaine's request, no memorial services will be held for her. Her cremated remains will be buried beside those of Francis in Arlington National Cemetery. Elaine's military record will be inscribed on the reverse of the headstone which she and Francis will share. Cremation of Elaine's remains will be performed by Kays-Ponger & Uselton Funeral Homes of Port Charlotte, FL.

For those who remember Elaine with fondness, she requests that you think of the needs of others in making charitable gifts of your own preference, or that you make contributions to Tidewell Hospice of Sarasota, FL. Elaine and her family appreciate the loving care of the staff at Harbour Terrace, at Bayfront Health of Port Charlotte and all of the Tidewell Hospice personnel and Nurse On Call with whom she came in contact in Port Charlotte and Arcadia, Florida.