Anne Kathryn Belongie passed away with family in attendance at Park View Health Center in Oshkosh on Tuesday, April 22, 2008. She was born on November 16, 1915 in Swanson, Michigan to the late Michael and Kathryn (Ludanska) Strazzinski. As a first-generation American, Anne would begin a lifelong delight with education. After graduation from grade school, she worked for room and board so that she could attend Stephenson High School in Stephenson, Michigan.
After graduation she enrolled in a teacher normal school and followed her certification with seven years of teaching in this upper Michigan area. Anne was delighted that her younger two sisters were initially teachers as were four of her own eight children.
Anne was married to her husband Cy (Cyril) Belongie on March 15, 1941, at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Rockford, Illinois. Anne spent the duration of World War II raising her growing family by herself as her husband Cy served as a command sergeant in the United States Army until 1945.
Anne and Cy were parents to eight children and were owners in various businesses during their 59 years of marriage in Michigan and Wisconsin. They moved to Oshkosh in 1957 and were owners of the Hobart Agency for over 25 years.
Anne, in addition, enrolled in the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh and attended college classes. Anne became the proprietress of The Kitchen Korner Shoppe in December 1973, the first natural food store in the Fox Valley. She successfully ran that business until she was 83 years old. Anne had civic interest and attended City Council meetings and frequently contributed to radio community comment shows. Her interests also were given to 4-H, Girl Scout, and Campfire Girls in leadership roles.
Anne and Cy's eight children were the centerpiece of their lives. Anne was attentive to women's issues before any articulation was made. Her determination for setting goals was evident and her trendsetting as a woman business owner in Oshkosh evidence. Anne and Cy were pleased with her children's furthering education and accomplishments.
Anne will be cherished for her unusual intelligence, curiosity, and determination. Her many friends and customers conferred on her unusual confidences and accolades, She had daunting limitations of sight and mobility while a resident at Park View. Nonetheless, she listened to public and local radio while filling her days with recorded books and yoga exercises into her ninetieth year. Her family was attentive to her, and she often commented that her daughters and sons were her real treasured jewels.
Anne is survived by three sons, Philip (Patricia) Belongie of Oshkosh, Raymond (Kathi) Belongie of Sunrise, Florida, and Michael (Jane) Belongie of Beaver Dam; three daughters, Annette (Jeremy) Lys of Berkley, California, Yvonne (James) Osborn of Appleton, and Marie (Jeff) Belongie-Kemp of Oshkosh; sisters, Julie Doerner of Arizona and Jeanette Strazzinski of Colorado; brother-in-law, Eugene (Rosa) Belongie of California; eight grandchildren, Lynley Lys, Eion Lys, Scott (Diane) Belongie, Heather Belongie, Shaun (Stephanie) Belongie, Ryan Belongie, Eric (Jenny) Osborn and Matthew (Nylee) Osborn; seven great-grandchildren, Alex, Elysa, Anna (her name sake), Spencer, Korbin, Grady and Lehlah. She is further survived by other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, Cyril; children, Cecile and David Belongie; brothers, Johnny (Mary), Michael (Ruth) and Harry (Rose) Strazzinski; and infant sisters, Eva and Mary.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 3, 2008 at Most Blessed Sacrament Parish (St. Josaphat Site), 1333 Walnut Street, led by the Rev. Fr. Carl Schmitt. Her family will greet guests at the church that morning beginning at 10:00 a.m. Burial will be in Sacred Heart Cemetery next to her beloved Cy. Memorials will be disbursed to those causes that were meaningful to Anne. Please share your memories in the online guestbook at www.seefeldfuneral.com. Her family of earthly angels have now entrusted her to our Heavenly Father.
Seefeld Funeral and Cremation Services
(920) 236-7750