Esther Machkovech

Esther Machkovech passed away peacefully December 21, 2022 at St. Clare Hospital in Baraboo at the age of 94. She was born to John Waldo and Iva (Fredenberg) Means on March 11, 1928 in Milwaukee. She was the eldest of three children.

The family moved to Madison where she graduated from Madison East High School as one of the top 13 in her class. While working in Beaver Dam she met Allen C. Machkovech. They married on February 5, 1947. A year later they bought a farm and raised milk cows, steers, hogs and 5,000 laying hens. She helped deliver piglets when the sows were in distress. During the 17 years they worked the farm Esther belonged to the Beaver Dam Homemakers Club and took the census for the Town of Trenton. Esther and Allen bought Parker Lake Lodge in Oxford, WI in 1963. For the next 17 years she helped run the resort. In 1974 she began working for the Bureau of Prisons, at the Federal Correctional Institution near Oxford. She retired as the Warden’s Secretary in 1994. An active member of St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Brooks, WI, she became the church treasurer in 1995.

Esther’s sharp wit and liveliness brought her a wide circle of friends. She enjoyed Monday morning breakfasts with many of them at Frannie Mae’s Café in Oxford. She loved to play cards, and belonged to several card groups, playing euchre, bridge, and 500. She was inducted into the Wisconsin Dells USBC Women’s Association Hall of Fame in 2017 and continued bowling until 2020. An avid reader, she was a member of the Kilbourn / Wisconsin Dell’s Library’s Book Club. Above all, she loved people and enjoyed visiting with family and friends and summer visitors to Parker Lake Lodge. Her grandchildren called her Gigi.

She was preceded in death by her parents, brother Duane, husband Allen, daughter Susan and grandson David. She is survived by her children: Michael Machkovech, Dallas, TX; Marian Baumann, Elkhorn, WI; Diane (Rick) Kettleson, Oxford, WI; Gerry (Jamie) Machkovech, Janesville, WI; Mark Machkovech, Oxford, WI; Dan (Mary Sesto) Machkovech, DeForest, WI; Patrick Machkovech, Packwaukee, WI. Grandchildren:  Scott Machkovech, Annie (Scott) Durham, Sam Machkovech, Jennifer Ni (Brian Zeller), Diana Ni (Jon Kamm), Katherine Ni (David Haskell), Justin Baumann, Jessica (Chase) Countryman, Shane Baumann, Eric Kettleson, Kirk (Sara) Kettleson, Ryan (Kristin) Machkovech, Heather Machkovech, Megan Machkovech, Melissa (Brian) Kozlowski and 12 great grandchildren.  Esther is further survived by her brother, Richard (Ruby) Means and many other extended family members.

A funeral prayer service for Esther Machkovech will be held on Tuesday, December 27, 2022 at 11:00 AM at the Crawford Funeral Home in Oxford.  Visitation will be held from 9:30 AM until the hour of service.  Father Savio Yerasani will lead the service and private family burial will follow at Mt. Calvary Cemetery in Brooks. 

Crawford Funeral and Cremation Service of Oxford and Montello is honored to be serving the family.  www.CrawfordFH.com