Nellie Ruth Kwas “Jackie”

(Nee Kleinschmidt) Passed away on May 7, 2011, at the age of 88. Beloved wife of the late Alphonsus, who preceded her in death on Sept. 29, 2003, after 51 years of marriage. Loving mother of Thomas, Daniel (Constance), Mary (Robert Mainfort) and Susan (Paul Krajniak). Dearest grandmother of Sam and Eli. She also is survived by her loyal Jack Russell terrier, Digger.Jackie was born on March 15, 1923, in Spartanburg, South Carolina, to Gus and Nelle West Kleinschmidt. As a child she lived with her grandmother in the Arkansas Ozarks before moving to the Chicago area at age 13. She relocated to Milwaukee in 1963.Jackie retired in 1988 as a long-distance service assistant after 30 years with AT&T, Wisconsin Telephone and Illinois Bell. She also was owner of Picket Fence Antiques in Milwaukee during the late 1960s.Jackie was very artistic and expressed her creativity through fine handiwork including beaded jewelry, Japanese temari and tatting, and won a number of blue ribbons at the Wisconsin State Fair. A tatted butterfly she designed was featured in Better Homes & Gardens Holiday Crafts magazine in 1984.She was a life member of the Telephone Pioneers of America and a former member of Cream City Calligraphers.A gathering in the funeral home will be held on Thursday, May 12, 2011 from 11:00 AM to 12:45 PM. A funeral service will follow at 1:00 PM. Interment will be private.In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to your favorite charity.