Eugenia A. Davis

With a life that spanned more than a century, Eugenia Davis put the spice into the lives of those around her. She wasn’t afraid to speak her mind, and her heart was as sweet as they come.

In the early 1900s American culture struggled with issues such as unsafe working conditions and a lack of child labor laws while only one-third of the nations youth enrolled in school. Less than ten precent of those who were lucky enough to receive a formal education went on to graduate from high school. It was during the heat of the summer during this unprecedented time that August and Katherine (Gorski) Plewa welcomed a healthy baby girl into their hearts and home on July 13, 1910. Baby Eugenia was the third of five children born to her parents in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, joined in her family by her older brothers, Benjamin and Francis, and her younger siblings, Richard and Sylvia. Her father died when she was a young girl, and her mother remarried a man named Harvey Davis who legally adopted Eugenia and her siblings. Their family was later completed with the birth of her brother, Howard.

Eugenia would say that as a young girl she was required to grow up too fast. She attended local schools, graduating from the eighth grade on June 12, 1923. Eugenia also worked at Spheris Candy Company. As she reflected on her life’s journey she said that she continued to evolve by trial and error to adulthood. Once an adult Eugenia continued to travel the path before her, being shaped by both the peaks and valleys with grace and strength. She worked as an accounting clerk for Yellow Freight until she retired later in life. Eugenia was a proud union member of Teamsters Local 200 and a true blue Democrat.

Over the years Eugenia’s life was enriched in so many ways. She loved traveling, especially to destinations overseas, and she selflessly volunteered at the Milwaukee County Medical Complex for several years. A strong and independent woman, Eugenia was able to remain in her home until she drew her last breath.

We will remember Eugenia Davis for her unwavering strength, her hard working mindset, and her ability to speak her mind, but most of all we will treasure her unending love. She was a bit of a free spirit who loved to have fun with those around her. Eugenia leaves behind a brilliantly colored mosaic of memories that will be cherished by the family and friends she dearly loved.

Eugenia A. Davis died on September 13, 2012. Eugenia’s family includes nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends. Eugenia was preceded in death by her parents, August Plewa, and Katherine and Harvey Davis; siblings, Benjamin Davis, Francis X. Davis, Richard Davis, Sylvia Koenig – Radtke and Howard Davis. Visit with Eugenia’s family and friends on Wednesday, September 19 at Our Lady Queen of Peace S. 27th Street and W. Euclid Ave from 3:30 p.m. until time of the Mass of Christian Burial at 5:00 p.m. Private interment St. Adalbert Cemetery. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Our Lady Queen of Peace or Hunger Task Force of Milwaukee. Arrangements provided by Suminski LifeStory Funeral Homes, Niemann / Suminski, (414) 744-5156. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com to leave a memory or sign the guestbook.