Ardell I Arawinko

Ardell Arawinko, beloved wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother passed away peacefully on Thursday, December 16, 2010 at the age of 88. She was surrounded by her loving family at the time of death. Ardell was born in the town of Summit, located near Upper Nemahbin Lake, Wisconsin. She was the youngest of four children born to Adela and Oscar Johns, both of German decent. She was baptized, confirmed and married at Dr. Martin Lutheran Church in Oconomowoc, WI. Ardell was in the 4H and became an assistant leader during her fifth year. During World War II she joined the Red Cross and sewed bathrobes for the war wounded.   Ardell met her husband, Zigmund M. Arawinko while employed as the Pabst family nanny in Oconomowoc. They married one day after her 21st birthday in May 1943, and were very happily married for 58 years. They moved to Madison when Zig began his life-long career in the Agronomy Department at the University of Wisconsin. Ardell spent her time as a devoted wife, mother and homemaker. She volunteered as a Brownie Scout and Girl Scout Leader. She was a homeroom mother for all of her children at Dudgeon, Van Hise and Midvale Schools. Ardell worked at Madison General Hospital for 13 years before retiring.   When Zig retired, they permanently moved to their summer home on Lake Petenwell in Adams County. During the summer months they enjoyed sailing, gardening, fishing and walking the shore line looking for arrow heads. During the winter months they traveled the country towing a trailer. They visited their children and traveled to nearly every state in the United States. Later they returned to Madison to be closer to family and re-join Midvale Community Lutheran Church.   Ardell is survived by her children Sandra J. Schick (Victor), Susan K. Leverenz, and David Z. Arawinko (Judith). She has 4 grandchildren: Craig Schick, Christine Hebl (Thomas), Andrew Leverenz and Nathan Leverenz. (Julie) Ardell was fond of her one great grand daughter, Ayla-Rae Marion Hebl who brought a smile into her life.   Your kind expression of sympathy, in lieu of flowers, may be made to charity of choice