Eileen Fix

Deforest- Eileen Fix, age 98, passed away peacefully on Sunday April 10, 2016 after a short illness. She was born on January 27, 1918 in Brooklyn Wisconsin to Stanley and Ethel Runey. She was the third oldest of eight children. When Eileen was a child, her family moved to Madison. She graduated from West High School in 1936. Eileen and Phillip Fix were married in 1939 and settled down in the 400 block of West Dayton Street where they raised their three children. She was very involved in Washington Grade School activities, serving as president of the PTA and as a Girl Scout Leader. She later worked for the Wisconsin Department of Revenue retiring as an Administrative Assistant/Supervisor in 1978.

After her retirement, Eileen's life became one of volunteering, gardening, traveling and enjoying being a grandma. Her involvement in Friendship Force took her to Europe and Russia numerous times and also gave her the opportunity to host families from Russia, New Zealand, and Germany. Eileen was an adventurous traveler; she never worried that every detail wasn't figured out in advance. She traveled to Australia, China, New Zealand and throughout the States.

Eileen loved to dig in the dirt. She earned a Master Gardener Certificate through the UW Extension. She volunteered at Olbrich Gardens for many years in addition to tending beautiful gardens at her home. She was a treasure trove of knowledge for all of her amateur gardening friends.

Eileen was able to combine her love of service and adventure on her numerous mission trips to Louisiana, Chiapas, Mexico, Haiti and Puerto Rico. For some of these trips she was both worker bee and mentor for the church youth group. Eileen reluctantly gave up these trips when she was 85.

Eileen was a social butterfly - her weekly calendar was full with church circle meetings, service projects like cooking for the homeless shelter, breakfasts and coffees with friends, bingo (which she said she never won) and parties at the "big house". She also volunteered weekly at the DeForest Senior Center.

Eileen was preceded in death by her husband of 45 years, Phillip Fix, who died in 1984 and her son, Steven, who died in January of this year. Her one remaining sibling, Garret Runey lives in Pennsylvania. Eileen is also survived by her son Stanley Fix of Lake in the Hills, Illinois, daughter and son-in-law Linda and Ralph Guerin of DeForest, daughter-in-law Mary Fix of Madison, grandchildren Andria (Matt) Dmytryszyn, Joe (Ellen) Guerin, Ross Guerin (Darcie Rowe), Peter Fix, Ann (Terek) Taillon, and great grandchildren Alexis Dmytryszyn, Teddy Guerin, Kyria and Liam Taillon.
Eileen's vibrant personality and gentle humor made her loved by all who were blessed to have her in their lives. She will be dearly missed.

Visitation will held on Saturday, April 16th at the Windsor United Church of Christ, 4434 Second Street, Windsor, WI, beginning at 10:30 AM. A Memorial Service at noon will be followed by refreshments and fellowship. Memorials may be made to the Windsor United Church of Christ.