Esther K. McGovern, age 97 of Kenosha, passed away peacefully on Thursday, February 14, 2019.

Born in Custer, WI on February 1, 1922, she was the daughter of the late Victor and Katherine Novak.  She came to Kenosha as an infant and then moved with her family to Stevens Point, WI and was a 1940 graduate of P.J. Jacobs High School.  In 1941, Esther returned to Kenosha and lived with her Aunt Sophie and Uncle Solie Pierce. She was employed with Nash Kelvinator during the war.  After the war she worked at various jobs and the last at Wilsons Variety Store for fifteen years.

On May 11, 1946, she married John McGovern at St. Casimir Catholic Church.  He preceded her in death on June 14, 1999.

She was a member of St. Peters Catholic Church and the former St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church.

Esther is survived by her three daughters, Diane McGovern, Donna (Rick) Dezek, Robin (Ed) Wamboldt; her son, Dan (Deb) McGovern; nine grandchildren, Jay, Brett, Corey, Kyle, Chad, Brad, Jon, Alanna and Jonalyn; and fifteen great grandchildren, Cody, Jake, Carly, Logan, Caden, Luke, Brady, Claire, Kate, Maxine, George, Maddy, Gavin, Oliver and Mila.

She is further survived by her sister, Janet (Jerry) Courtney; many nieces and nephews and her god-daughter, Barb Milisaukas.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by a sister, Joyce Olson; and four brothers, Chester, James, Robert and Marvin Novak.

The family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Dr. Joe Garretto and the staff at Brookside Care Center; especially, Julia, Rose and Dolores for the compassionate care that was given to our mom.  

Service Info

Funeral Services honoring Esther’s life will be held on Saturday, February 23, 2019 at 11:30 a.m. at the Piasecki-Althaus Funeral Home, 3720 39th Avenue, Kenosha, WI. Entombment will follow in All Saints Mausoleum.