Edith A. Lancaster

MADISON, WIS. - Edith Lancaster passed away peacefully on Monday, May 24, 2010 at home in Madison after a brief illness. Edie was born on August 17, 1936 to Loren and Florence (Bestwick) Lancaster in Sabetha, KS and grew up on a farm in rural Kansas. Like her mother and sister, she was an avid 4H member. In her school years, she was an active member of the band and was the drum majorette in high school. She continued playing music in college and played piano throughout her life. Edie graduated from Sabetha HS in 1954. She attended Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas and majored in Home Economics and was a member of the Alpha Chi Omega sorority at Kansas State. She earned a Masters degree in Child and Family Studies from UW-Madison in 1976. After graduation from K-State in 1957, Edie came to Sheboygan, Wisconsin to teach. It was in Wisconsin that she met Robert Borden and they married in 1959. They had 3 sons, Greg, Phillip and Matthew. Her second husband was Eugene Kraus, whom she married in 1983. A woman with many careers over her lifetime, she worked at the Department of Social Services in Sheboygan and later as a Coordinator and Supervisor for Lakeshore Technical Institute. In 1978, Edie moved to Madison, Wisconsin where she was appointed as the state's first Small Business Ombudsman by then Governor Martin Schreiber. Her dedication to helping Wisconsin Businesses continued when she became an economic development consultant for the Department of Development. In 1986, Governor Tommy Thompson appointed her as Deputy Secretary of that department. Subsequently she was appointed as Head Administrator of Wisconsin Job Service, a position she held until she retired from state service in 1991. Upon retirement, Edith pursued her love of the water and sailed the Caribbean as a crewperson for 2 seasons. Later she captained her own boat, the "KALOS", out of Sturgeon Bay, WI for several years. A tireless worker throughout her entire life, she also sold real estate for the Stark Company in Madison. Edith is survived by sons Greg (Teresa) of San Jose, California; Phillip (Ann) of Sheboygan Falls, WI; and Matthew (Beatriz) of Evanston, IL. She had the gift of 5 grandchildren: Austin and Dylan Castro, Amalie Borden, Glenn Borden, and Sofia Borden-Gomez. She is also survived by best friend and ex-husband Robert Borden of Port Washington, WI; brother Lyle of Topeka, KS and sister Joyce of Lawrence, KS. Edith was a fan of Wisconsin Sports and was an avid supporter of Wisconsin Football. She was a member of both the K-State Alumni Association and the University of Wisconsin Alumni Association. She was also an active member of the First United Methodist Church of Madison, where she was involved in Bible Study, helping the homeless, and outreach activities. Her memorial service will be held at the FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, 203 Wisconsin Ave., Madison, on Saturday, May 29, 2010 at 1:30 PM. Her friend the Reverend Keith Schroerlucke will conduct the service and her friend Kitt Reuter-Foss will sing as per Edie’s request. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to First United Methodist Church or the Ronald McDonald House 2716 Mendota Ct, Madison, WI 53705.