Ardis S. McAfee

Ardis Stella (Nelson) McAfee, 101, of Eau Claire, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, June 22, 2016, at her residence. Ardis was born on June 28, 1914 in Milltown, WI, a daughter to Peter Christian and Dora Kristine (Pedersen) Nelson, both of Danish decent. She married George D. McAfee, MD, on June 15, 1946. They lived in St. Paul, MN, Cincinnati, OH, and Eau Claire, WI, and had three children; Mary Elizabeth Fitz, Dena Pauline and Joan Betsy. She was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran Church and graduated from high school in Milltown, WI. After graduation, Ardis attended the University of Minnesota and graduated from Ancker Hospital School of Nursing in St. Paul, MN. She did private nursing duty in the hospitals in St. Paul before joining the Army Nurse Corps during WWII in 1943. Ardis traveled by ship, which had three entire hospital units on the ship, as part of the 54th General Hospital Unit. She served in New Guinea and the Philippines. When the war ended on September 2nd 1945, Ardis was in the Philippines and made the choice to travel home by ship so she could care for the wounded soldiers and arrived in Los Angeles, CA, on Thanksgiving Day. Ardis was a charter member of the Medical Auxiliary when it was started in 1953 and she was one of the first two women offered a full VFW membership. She was a member of the Eau Claire Golf and Country Club, Lowes Creek Golf Club, Grace Lutheran Church and volunteered with the Red Cross blood bank. She loved her family, enjoyed hunting, fishing, golf, bridge and gardening. Ardis golfed and played bridge well into her nineties. She had a wonderful sense of humor and always had a twinkle in her eye. She handled all of her trials of losing her beloved husband, Mac, and her three daughters, Mary, Dena, and Joan, with strength and grace. She was a loving and amazing lady! Ardis is survived by her grand-daughter, Alison Fitz Mickelson; many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, George; three daughters, Mary Fitz, Dena and Joan; parents, Peter and Dora; brothers, Milton (Gladys), Howard (Dorothy), Vernon (Opal) and Arthur (Jolene); sisters, Alma Sands and Harriet (Bob) Hart. The family thanks the loving women who gave her such devoted and loving care in the years since Dena’s death. They became a second family to her. A Funeral Service will be held at 12 p.m. on Wednesday, June 29, 2016, at Grace Lutheran Church, 202 W Grand Ave. in Eau Claire with Pastor Dean Simpson officiating. Visitation will be held two hours prior to services at the church. Burial will be in Forest Hill Cemetery.

Service Information

Visitation

Wednesday, June 29 2016
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Grace Lutheran Church
202 W. Grand Ave.
Eau Claire WI

Funeral Service

Wednesday, June 29 2016
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

Grace Lutheran Church
202 W. Grand Ave.
Eau Claire WI