Zita Grabinski-Clack

Zita Grabinski Clack, age 69, Missouri City, formerly of LaCrosse, Wisconsin, left   M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, on June 14, 2020, 3 days after her birthday, to join her Mother, Dad, and 3 other sisters, in Heaven.   Zita was born June 11, 1951, in LaCrosse, Wisconsin, to Dorothy (Lepsch) Grabinski and Verdon Grabinski, joining  7 sisters and 1 brother.  She was planned to be the last of the babies, so her name was started with a "Z", like the end of the alphabet, but God had other plans.  She had two more sisters and a second brother, born after her, for a total of 11 kids in the Grabinski family.

Zita graduated from Holy Trinity Grade school and then from Aquinas High School, LaCrosse, Wisconsin, in 1969.  She entered the U.S. Army, a few days young, after graduation, so her parents had to  sign for her.  She studied nursing at Hermann Hospital School of Vocational Nursing and became an LPN, working as a 91A10 Medic in the military hospital, caring for the Vietnam vets, coming home from the war.  After her Honorable discharge, she continued her nursing career, working as office nurse for Dr. Ann McCammon, Dr. Gilmer, and Dr. Pat, over her 30 year career, before retirement.

Zita had a special love of the children and grandchildren in the family, and Mark's dogs, especially her recently deceased German Shepherd, Billy Joe.  She also loved to go to their farm in Detroit, TX, where she enjoyed fishing, hunting, and camping with Mark, over the years.  Zita was a natural born artist and leaves a few of her favorite projects, including a treasured papier- mache clown, and a unicorn she painted in one of the bedrooms that niece Cassie loves.  She sometimes played her special music box for the children to help them fall asleep, when they slept over. She delighted in her motorcycle rides with Mark, and  also let the children go for occasional rides with him, on his bike, which they loved.  Zita had a unique, teasy sense of humor, always trying to get a surprise laugh from any of her friends or family, including her message on her answering machine, that fools the caller into thinking she is actually there, talking.  She was known to add a spicy little  sarcastic note about something, into her friendly conversations  with everyone she  loved.

Zita is survived by loving husband and best friend of 31 years, Mark Clack.    Also surviving   are daughter, Teressa (Devin) Howell, 2 grandchildren, Mikalyn, and Nekoda Burns., and one great-grandchild, Olivia Burns, all from Oklahoma.  Zita also leaves siblings, Mary (Sid Steinke) Grabski, Florence, Wisconsin, Gerald (Chickie) Grabinski, Glenbeulah, Wisconsin, Verda, LaCrosse, Wisconsin, Judy (Jerry) Eckert, Kenosha, Wisconsin, Genie (Bill) Applebee, Burlington, Wisconsin, Carlota (Jesus) Gutiérrez, Kenosha, Wisconsin, and Archie (Tracey) Grabinski, Chesterland, Ohio, multiples of nieces, nephews, cousins, and  friends, including special niece, who advocated lovingly for her, during her past months-long need, Carolyn (Kevin) Wentland, San Antonio, (and special dear friends, Robin, Deana, Jeanie.

Zita was preceded in death by her parents, Dorothy and Verdon Grabinski, LaCrosse, Wisconsin, sisters Colette (Robert) Finley, Plymouth, Wisconsin, Sue/Suzy (Bill) Leary, Largo, Florida, Denise, LaCrosse, Wisconsin, and infant granddaughter, Marquessa Dawn Burns of Oklahoma.

Zita attended Holy Family Catholic Church in Missouri City, and she loved the old Latin Masses of her childhood.    Visitation and rosary will be held, Wednesday, June 24, 2020 from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Clarksville Funeral Home and Funeral service at 9:00 a.m. Thursday, June 25, 2020, in Lindeman Chapel of Clarksville Funeral Home with procession to Detroit Cemetery.  Zita will be interred in the Clack family plot at Detroit Cemetery at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, June 25, 2020, which is 13 miles West from Clarksville. Services are under the direction of Clarksville Funeral Home. 

Memories and condolences may be added at www.clarksvillefuneralhome.com .

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Zita Grabinski-Clack, please visit our floral store.