Obituary of Elaine Filstrup

Elaine Hogenson Filstrup was born in Chicago, Illinois on July 30th, 1907, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Peter Hogenson. Her father was a renowned athlete who won two Gold, one Silver and two Bronze Medals in the 1904 Olympics in St. Louis, Missouri. Mr. Hogenson was also an All-American running back on the University of Chicago's National Championship Team of 1905, coached by Alanzo Stagg. Mrs. Filstrup attended school at Ferry Hall/Lake Forest Academy in Lake Forest, Illinois, and at Randolph Macon College in Virginia. She graduated from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan, majoring in Journalism and was an active member of Pi Beta Phi sorority. She married Alvin William Filstrup, Jr., a graduate of Harvard University, and moved to the Benton Harbor/St. Joseph, Michigan area. Mr. Filstrup was Secretary/Treasurer of Covel Manufacturing Co., President of Armstrong Coalbreaking Company and Director of InterCity Bank. Mrs. Filstrup was active in raising her two sons: Alvin William Filstrup III, of Fox Chapel, Pennsylvania, and Scott Hogenson Filstrup of Tulsa, Oklahoma. She was involved with all of her son's activities including Boy Scouts, helping both achieve Eagle Scout status. Additionally, she was also involved in the community serving on numerous arts and community boards. Mrs. Filstrup also co-founded an investment club in 1961. Travel was always an important part of Mrs. Filstrup's life. As a child she traveled around the world with her parents, participating in many ship's maiden voyages and early Pan Am Clipper flights. She particularly enjoyed trips to China, Australia, Europe, South America, Cuba and Canada during the 1920's and 1930's. Mr. and Mrs. Filstrup continued the tradition with their sons and traveled to all 50 States and 50 State Capitals before their sons were 19 years old. Mrs. Filstrup had a love for sports in which she actively participated for the majority of her lifetime, and won several golf and bridge tournaments in Michigan. While her two sons attended Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, majoring in Engineering, she was elected to Secretary of the Parents Council of Northwestern University, and later became a member of the John Evans Society at Northwestern. Upon her husband's retirement in 1978, Mr. and Mrs. Filstrup moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma. They wintered, first in Florida and later in Palm Desert, California. Elaine's beloved husband Alvin passed away in Palm Dessert on March 17th, 1987. After Mr. Filstrup's death, Mrs. Filstrup maintained an active lifestyle playing golf at Cedar Ridge County Club, swimming and participating in several bridge clubs. She consistently won bridge tournaments until she was 95 years old. Mrs. Filstrup continued to travel until she was 97 with numerous trips to Europe, cruises and visits to California, Chicago and Michigan. She celebrated her 94th Birthday on a Crystal cruise to Russia and her 96th on another Crystal Cruise to the Mediterranean. Mrs. Filstrup had a lifetime love for music, especially Opera, which she inherited from her mother who was a music major and an accomplished pianist. She attended operas all over the world, frequenting The Lyric Opera in Chicago, and later favoring Tulsa Opera's productions. Mrs. Filstrup was a member of Tulsa Opera's President's Council and was an active supporter of the Opera's special events. She was a member of Boston Avenue Methodist Church in Tulsa, a long-term supporter of Junior Achievement in Tulsa, The Tulsa Opera Guild, Tulsa Ballet, the former Tulsa Philharmonic, Philbrook and Gilcrease museums in Tulsa, Northwestern University and the Kellogg School of Management in Evanston, Illinois. Elaine will be remembered for her positive attitude, optimism, generosity, kindness, and wonderful smile. She is survived by her two sons: Alvin William Filstrup III and his wife Dale, of Fox Chapel, Pennsylvania, and Scott Hogenson Filstrup and his wife Margee of Tulsa, Oklahoma; three Grandchildren: Laura Leigh "Lauren" Filstrup of Chicago, Scott Douglas Filstrup of Dallas and Mark Curtis Filstrup and his wife Patricia of New York City, and two Great Grand-Daughters: Willow Lynn Filstrup of Austin and Isabela Anneliese Filstrup of New York City. The family is most grateful to Colleen Sue Coffman for her loving care and companionship. Donations in lieu of flowers are suggested to Tulsa Opera or to the McCormick School of Engineering at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. A funeral service will be held 3:00PM Tuesday, August 22, 2006 at Boston Avenue Methodist Church. Private interment will be in Forest Park, Illinois. Ninde Woodland Funeral Home, 742-5556. www.ninde.com