Elsa Adele Wolske (nee Prochnow) was born October 17, 1886, in Chicago. She was a first generation American born to immigrant parents from the province of Pomerania in the nation then known as Prussia, now Germany. She was also the first-born child of Amelia (Emilie) and Wilhelm Prochnow who would have twelve more children following Elsa's birth.
Elsa and her siblings grew up in the Chicago area on their parents' farm. Within a farm family everyone has to help and each child did his own job faithfully. Being the eldest child, Elsa found her place helping in the house with the younger children and learning to cook, sew, and do handwork including knitting, crocheting, and tatting. These were skills that she would eventually pass on to her own daughters.
As a young woman, Elsa worked as a live-in servant in the household of Robert and Nellie Coble. Mr. Coble was a prominent merchant in the food products industry.
Sometime before 1910 Elsa met a young man by the name of Walter John Wolske. He, too, was from a farming family in the area, the eldest son of August and Wilhelmine Wolske (nee Jeske). On October 22, 1910, Elsa and Walter were married in Chicago and settled into their home on School Street.
On November 24, 1911, their first child, a girl, was born. She was named Esther Elizabeth Clara Wolske. Almost two years passed when Elsa and Walter became the parents of a baby boy named Elmer, born February 17, 1913. Sadly, though, Elmer passed away in the fall of 1918, only five and one-half years old, from the complications of diphtheria. But there would be one more child for Elsa and Walter. On September 18 in 1919 a baby girl, Elizabeth Florence Lucille Wolske, was born. The two girls were eight years apart, but Esther now had a baby sister to cherish.
When Walter died in1946, Elsa divided her time among her parents' and her children's homes. Although she mourned the loss of her beloved Walter for the rest of her life, she also found contentment with her three grandchildren: Priscilla, Janet, and John. There were frequent games of "Cootie," wonderful baked goods, and French toast for breakfast. She continued crocheting and tatting as well. Eventually she became a great-grandmother with the birth of Jill in 1970.
Elsa passed away on December 29, 1970, at the age of 84, to be re-united with Walter. Pastor Robert S. McDonald of St. John's United Church of Christ Arlington Heights officiated. She was buried with Walter at Mt. Emblem Cemetery in Elmhurst, Illinois.
Elsa was survived by her children, grandchildren, and great grandchild plus six sisters: Mrs. Lillian Noesen, Mrs. Erna Clausing, Miss Emily Prochnow, Mrs. Eleanor Mielke, Mrs. Edna Krueger, and Mrs. Esther Jerde; and three brothers: Alfred Prochnow, Edwin Prochnow, and Albert Prochnow.

Elsa Adele Wolske (nee Prochnow) was born October 17, 1886, in Chicago. She was a first generation American born to immigrant parents from the province of Pomerania in the nation then known as Prussia, now Germany. She was also the first-born child of Amelia (Emilie) and Wilhelm Prochnow who would have twelve more children following Elsa's birth.
Elsa and her siblings grew up in the Chicago area on their parents' farm. Within a farm family everyone has to help and each child did his own job faithfully. Being the eldest child, Elsa found her place helping in the house with the younger children and learning to cook, sew, and do handwork including knitting, crocheting, and tatting. These were skills that she would eventually pass on to her own daughters.
As a young woman, Elsa worked as a live-in servant in the household of Robert and Nellie Coble. Mr. Coble was a prominent merchant in the food products industry.
Sometime before 1910 Elsa met a young man by the name of Walter John Wolske. He, too, was from a farming family in the area, the eldest son of August and Wilhelmine Wolske (nee Jeske). On October 22, 1910, Elsa and Walter were married in Chicago and settled into their home on School Street.
On November 24, 1911, their first child, a girl, was born. She was named Esther Elizabeth Clara Wolske. Almost two years passed when Elsa and Walter became the parents of a baby boy named Elmer, born February 17, 1913. Sadly, though, Elmer passed away in the fall of 1918, only five and one-half years old, from the complications of diphtheria. But there would be one more child for Elsa and Walter. On September 18 in 1919 a baby girl, Elizabeth Florence Lucille Wolske, was born. The two girls were eight years apart, but Esther now had a baby sister to cherish.
When Walter died in1946, Elsa divided her time among her parents' and her children's homes. Although she mourned the loss of her beloved Walter for the rest of her life, she also found contentment with her three grandchildren: Priscilla, Janet, and John. There were frequent games of "Cootie," wonderful baked goods, and French toast for breakfast. She continued crocheting and tatting as well. Eventually she became a great-grandmother with the birth of Jill in 1970.
Elsa passed away on December 29, 1970, at the age of 84, to be re-united with Walter. Pastor Robert S. McDonald of St. John's United Church of Christ Arlington Heights officiated. She was buried with Walter at Mt. Emblem Cemetery in Elmhurst, Illinois.
Elsa was survived by her children, grandchildren, and great grandchild plus six sisters: Mrs. Lillian Noesen, Mrs. Erna Clausing, Miss Emily Prochnow, Mrs. Eleanor Mielke, Mrs. Edna Krueger, and Mrs. Esther Jerde; and three brothers: Alfred Prochnow, Edwin Prochnow, and Albert Prochnow.