Paulina Stephania (Grabinsky) Erdman |
| Posted 2009-09-26 by Judy Wight Branson |
| The Daily Courier, Prescott, Arizona Saturday, September 19, 2009 Paulina Stephania Grabinsky was born to Roman and Eva (Moroz) Grabinsky in La Porte, Ind., on Feb. 20, 1914. When she was a very young girl, the family moved to Wisconsin and she was educated in the Kenosha Public Schools. Pauline graduated from Mary D. Bradford High School in 1932. On June 12, 1937, she married Earl Edwin Erdman in Waukegan, Ill. Ed preceded her in death on Aug. 16, 2000. Ed, Pauline and her brother, Joseph, established the Kenosha Machine and Grinding Company in the early 1940s, which they operated until retirement. In addition to being a homemaker and wonderful mother of Allan and Paula (Richard) Williams, Pauline was an accomplished violinist who performed in string ensembles, organized a string quartet and gave private lessons for many years. She was a former pupil and protégé of the Dutch virtuoso Leon Sametini, then Director of Violin at Chicago Musical College. This was an honor in itself, establishing her as one of the most promising young violinists of the day. He helped her obtain the fine Camilli violin she played for so many years. In the 1940s, Pauline helped establish the Kenosha Symphony Orchestra. She was concertmaster of the orchestra for 20 years, retiring in the early 1960s due to shoulder pain that no longer allowed her to play. Pauline was a longtime member of the Kenosha Schubert Club. In 1969, she and Ed retired to Prescott, Ariz. She remained in the southwest until Ed's death. She then returned to Kenosha to be with her daughter. Pauline enjoyed music, reading, and found beauty in so many forms, colors and shapes. She possessed a keen sense of humor, was an outstanding seamstress and continued her education well into retirement, taking such varied courses as literature at UW Parkside and French cooking at Prescott College. In addition to her parents and husband, Pauline was preceded in death by her brother, Joseph (Margaret) Grabinsky; her two sisters, Julia (Vito) Bagdonas and Helen (Raymond) Barengo; and her nephew, Robert Barengo. She is survived by her two children; her four grandchildren, Kurt and Brian Erdman, Alyssa (Williams) Germain and Morgan Williams; her three great-grandchildren, Vyctoriah, Madison and Piper; and her nieces, Susan, Tina and Kathy. In accordance with Pauline's wishes, private funeral services took place. Memorial remembrances directed to the Kenosha Symphony Young Musicians Fund, 6501 3rd Ave., Kenosha, WI 53143, would be appreciated. Piasecki-Althaus Funeral Home, Kenosha, Wis., assisted the family with arrangements. For online condolences, visit www.piasecki-althaus.com. Information provided by survivors. |
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