Eileen E. Baxter

Elaine slipped into the arms of Jesus while napping during the late morning of July 30, 2024. She had just turned 82 the previous Friday. 

Eileen Elaine Slaback was born on July 26, 1942, at the Viroqua hospital and grew up with five other siblings in La Farge, Wisconsin. Her father passed away when Elaine was a year old. Later she and her mother along with her older sister, Darlene, moved to Madison, WI where she attended high school and met the love of her life Warner (Tony) Baxter. They were married in Oregon, Wisconsin on March 19, 1960. Together they built their life together and had five children, Alan, Debbie, Gregory, who were all born in Wisconsin, and Rebekah and Paul, who were born in Downers Grove, Illinois. 

Elaine loved her family, but most of all Elaine loved Jesus. She accepted Him as her Savior as a young girl while attending the Free Methodist Church in LaFarge, WI. After marriage, she rededicated her life to her Lord, and Tony accepted Christ soon after. Life was not perfect for either of them, but they strove to do their best for Jesus, who had died for them, in the best way they knew how. They attended First Baptist Church of Downers Grove for 13 years where the two youngest children also attended private school. Later, Elaine, Tony and the two youngest moved to Viroqua, WI where they attended Bethlehem Baptist Church for 8 years. Later, the couple served as founding members of Grace Evangelical Free Church, which they watched with joy as it grew and blossomed with new families and new disciples of Christ. 

Elaine loved to garden, talk with friends and family and clean her house. She also sold Avon for over 40 years and many knew her as their faithful Avon lady who delivered their orders to their door and offered a listening ear. She also loved to walk and was seen strolling the sidewalks in Viroqua arm and arm with her beloved husband. 

Elaine is survived by her husband, Tony, and her children, Alan, Debbie, Becki and Paul. She is also survived by her sister Darlene Retzlaff. They also have 16 grandchildren, 18 great grandchildren and 2 great great grandchildren. Elaine was preceded in death by her father, Lloyd, her mother, Ella, and her siblings, Carl, LaVerne, Marvin and Janice. Also preceding her was their son, Gregory, and grandson, Matthew. 

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday August 3, 2024 at Grace Evangelical Free Church in Viroqua. A visitation will be held from 11 a.m. until service time. Burial will be in the Viola Cemetery. The Seland Funeral Home is assisting the family.