Obituary for Eleanor Ciskowski

Eleanor Ciskowski

November 9, 1932 – March 30, 2022

Eleanor Rose Ciskowski, age 89, a former long-time resident of Ponca City, passed away Wednesday, March 30, 2022, in Marietta, Georgia. Friends and loved ones may pay their respects at Trout Funeral Home on Wednesday, April 6 from 1:00-8:00 pm with family present from 2:00-4:00 pm. A Rosary Ceremony will be held on Wednesday evening, April 6, 2022, at 6:00 pm at the Trout Funeral Home Chapel. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held for Eleanor at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, April 7, 2022, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, with Father Carson Krittenbrink officiating. Following the ceremony, Eleanor will be laid to rest at Hope Cemetery in Arkansas City, Kansas. Arrangements are under the direction of Trout Funeral Home & Crematory, 505 W Grand Ave, Ponca City, OK 74601.

Eleanor was born to Charles A. Somers and Anna T. Schwartz in Winfield, Kansas, on November 9, 1932, the day after Franklin Delano Roosevelt was elected President. Her mother named her in honor of the First Lady-elect. The local newspaper identified Eleanor as the “new deal baby”. She was raised in Winfield, Kansas, where she excelled at performing on the piano and bass. Her favorite piano composition was “Flight of the Bumblebee” by Rimsky-Korsakov. After graduating she worked at the Winfield Board of Education. On May 28, 1952, Eleanor married John Backus, who proceeded her in death. Together they had three children, Marianne, Kathleen, and Rebecca. She later moved to Ponca City, where she met Alvin Ciskowski. They married December 31, 1959. Together they had three children, Joseph, Phillip, and Theresa. Throughout her careers at Evans Construction, St. Joseph’s Medical Center, and ConocoPhillips, Eleanor was known for her accuracy and reliability. She retired from ConocoPhillips in 1993.

Eleanor was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, John Backus; her husband, Alvin Ciskowski; one sister, Mary Hohenberger and five brothers, Joseph, Charles Jr., Robert, Francis, and James.

She raised a family which included four daughters, Marianne Newberry, Kathleen Fry, Rebecca Wall, and Theresa Ciskowski, and two sons, Joseph and Phillip Ciskowski. She has eleven grandchildren, six great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

Eleanor will be remembered as an exceptional quilter. She was generous with her quilting gift and touched many lives with her generosity. She loved board games and puzzles and had a healthy competitive spirit. She will be remembered for her kindness and wit as well as her loving heart.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

Source: Trout Funeral Home