Eleanor M. Michalik

Eleanor M. Michalik, age 82, of Dover, died peacefully in her home on Tuesday, June 29, 2010, following a brief illness. A daughter of the late Arthur and Eleanor (Dierkes) Groppe, Eleanor was born at Saint Louis, Missouri on April 3, 1928.Following graduation from high school, Eleanor attended Washington University.On June 18, 1949, Eleanor married John L. Michalik, and shared in nearly sixty years of marriage prior to his passing in November, 2008. As a couple, they raised four children.Eleanor was a member of St. Joseph Church at Dover and the Tuscarawas County Senior Center. Additionally, she previously had served as the Treasurer of Cub Pack 86. She enjoyed caring for her family and in her free time enjoyed reading romance novels.Eleanor will be missed by two sons, John Louis (Paula) Michalik of Richmond, VA., William “Hillbilly” (Linda) Michalik of Sherrodsville; two daughters, Deborah Michalik of Weirton, WV, and Karen (Bill) Shaffer of Fairfax, OK and a brother, Arthur (Pat) Groppe of California.She was especially close to two grandsons, Don (Angie) Young and John McIntosh both of Dover, and a granddaughter, Debbie (Scott) Ayers of Charlotte, NC. Completing the family are six additional grandchildren as well as 14 great-grandchildren.In keeping with Eleanor’s wishes, private services will be held in the Geib Funeral Center at Dover with cremation to follow through the care of Geib’s Tuscarawas Valley Crematory. Private inurment in the Ridgecrest Memory Gardens at Dover will be held at a later date.The family requests that memorial contributions in Eleanor’s name be directed to the Conquering Cancer Fund c/o Taussig Cancer Center, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, PO Box 931517 Cleveland, Ohio 44193.