J. Lucille Repka1934 - 2013J. Lucille Repka, 78, of Kenosha, passed away on Tuesday, April 30, 2013, at Brookside Care Center. The following obituary was written by Lou in her own words: I am writing this obit as who knows me better? I was born on Sept. 17, 1934, in Grant Co., Wis., to the late Beulah E. (Hayden-Mink) Krumpos and Virgil H. Mink in the midst of the Great Depression, not the best of times. I attended schools in Lancaster, WI, Savanna, IL, then after 1943 in Kenosha where I graduated with the class of 1952, a member of the National Honor Society.On Oct. 20, 1956, I married Albert Repka to the astonishment of all who knew me as a confirmed bachelorette. We embarked on a 32 year adventure together including our children in many of them- there was more in store, but I lost my fishing buddy in 1988.I always had a job, even as a small child. I either worked on a farm for family (or occasionally for pay). When I turned 11, I baby-sat and housecleaned until I went to high school. While there, I worked part-time noon hours, nights and weekends, full time in the summers, as a waitress or car-hopping. It was a great experience meeting new people and I knew then that whatever I chose to do in life, it had to include customer service to others. After graduation I did a bit of traveling, then settled into food service first as a job, then in the catering business with my mother. I had always loved to cook, so I spent a few years in that capacity at Garneros Italian Restaurant. An unfortunate accident caused a life-changing detour. During a nearly seven year disability, I turned to my love of books and search for knowledge which had developed from the time I entered first grade and followed me to adulthood. Now that love became my salvation-challenging my mind as my body healed. Through the extraordinary surgical skills of Dr. Robert Spencer (Mayo Clinic) and his encouragement and his personal pride in my accomplishment, I regained my self-esteem. I am eternally grateful to this remarkable man.In 1969 I was interviewed, then hired by Kenosha County to develop and implement the first child support collection program in the State of WI in an effort to offset welfare costs. In the ensuing years, I advanced from Case Aide to Supervisor, to Administrator and finally Director of the Child Support Agency. I was blessed with wonderful staff during all those 27 years who always made me look better than I was. Most important were the people I met and served. I retired in 1996, having lived and achieved my version of the American Dream.I was a den mother, a Religious Ed teacher, a founding mother of Womens and Childrens Horizons, Member of the Coalition for the Prevention of Child Abuse, W-2 Steering Committee, RSVP and Shalom Center volunteer, Member of ACLU, NAACP, Death with Dignity, but most important was my membership at Bradford Community Church Unitarian Universalist.I have traveled this great country from coast to coast. My favorite pastimes have been fishing until 1988, collecting antiques, gardening, reading, crosswords and cryptograms, cooking and sharing it with others, listening to Public Radio, working out with my friends at the gym and sharing my world with Buddy and seeing a dogs life through his eyes.I was pre-deceased by my husband, big Al, my son, Jeff, my daughter, Lisa, my beloved sister-in-law, Nell, my special niece Sharon Mecozzi and step-son, Robert Repka. Survived by half sister Pamela Ginn, niece Lindsay Ginn of Florence, AL; adopted sister and niece, Clara (Mickey) Amos and Barbara Jeanne Anderson of Knoxville, TN, many grand- and great-grand nieces and nephews, and step grand- and great-grand children in CA.A memorial service will be held on Tuesday May 21, at Bradford Community Church UU, 5810-8th Avenue, Kenosha, at 11 a.m. Interment will be private. Visitation will be held on Tuesday at the church from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials to the Shalom Center or the Salvation Army would be appreciated.Proko Funeral Home & Crematory5111-60th Street Phone: (262) 654-3533Visit Lous Online Memorial Book at:www.prokofuneralhome.com