Elaine Schleis, age 100, passed away Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025, at The Independence House in Lincoln. She was born March 14, 1925, at home on a farm near Exeter to John and Elsie (Slepicka) Tesar.
Elaine graduated from Milligan High School with the Class of 1942, after which she taught school for three years in Fillmore and Saline counties. She worked at the Java Inn in Wilber for two years where she met Milo Schleis. A courtship ensued, and they were married Oct. 8, 1947.
Elaine is survived by daughters and sons-in-law, Janelle and Michael Fitzgerald and Jeanine and Roger Janssen; sisters, Darlene Beranek, Delyte Ahlschwede and Vicki Tesar; brothers, Johnnie (Shorty) Tesar and Rene Tesar; sisters-in-law, Marjory (Marge) Tesar and Judy Tesar; grandchildren, Brian (Robin) Fitzgerald, Eileen (Bobby) Grothe, Gene (DeEmma) Fitzgerald and Jerad and Darin Janssen; great-grandchildren, Milo and Wren Fitzgerald, Kayla Fitzgerald and Gage Grothe; and great-great-grandchild, Krew Palmesano; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 65 years, Milo, parents, John and Elsie Tesar; brothers, LaVern Tesar and Larry Tesar; sisters-in-law, Juliann (Julie) Tesar, Virginia (Ginny) Prieber, Mary Schleis, Elisabeth Schleis and Marguerite Engel; brothers in law, Jerry Beranek, Keith Ahlschwede, Wencil Schleis and Warren Schleis; nieces, Susan Tesar and Holly Sunderman; and nephews, Jay Beranek and Alvin Dvorak.
The funeral service will be at 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 15, at Kuncl Funeral Home in Wilber with visitation beginning at noon. Memorial contributions are suggested in care of the family to Wilber Fire and Rescue.
Arrangements by Kuncl Funeral Home in Wilber.
