Mildred Teresa Chojnacky

Mildred Teresa (Nutsch) Chojnacky, 100 years old, passed away November 28, 2025, at Creekside Residential Care Center, in Jerome, Idaho, of natural causes. Mildred was born January 9, 1925, to Carl and Mary (Huber) Nutsch in Fairbury, Nebraska. When she was 14 yrs old, in 1939, she moved with her parents and 4 brothers to Jerome where her dad bought a farm west of town. The family was happy to leave the ‘Dust Bowl’ years behind and start over in Jerome to pursue farming. Tragically, Mildred’s father was killed in a `hay derrick’ farming accident just a year later in 1940. Mildred’s older brother Edwin kept the farm going, and Mildred and her mother tended to the 3 younger boys and kept the household afloat. Tragedy nearly occurred again, when Mildred was hit by a car one afternoon after exiting the school bus and was thrown into the ‘barrow pit’. Amazingly she wasn’t severely injured, but she recalled “having a big knot on my head”! Mildred graduated from Jerome High School and worked at a feed store in Jerome and at the Kings store. Mildred met Lee Chojnacky, and they became engaged before he was deployed with the Army and stationed in Korea.

Mildred and Lee were married on August 20, 1946, in Jerome. Her wedding dress was made from silk fabric Lee sent to her from Korea. Her wedding cake involved saving rationing coupons for sugar! Lee and Mildred started farming north of Jerome, and many busy years followed. Also 9 children followed in succession! Mildred was such a hard-working farm wife and provided well for her large family. She always raised chickens, and many of her children’s earliest memories were of gathering eggs or plucking feathers from a scalded hen when it was a chicken butchering day! She raised a large garden every year and had many fruit trees. She was always excited when a new variety of fruit tree began yielding fruit. She especially loved to grow flowers, and her pride and joy were the beautiful dahlias she raised, having 70 varieties at one point!

Mildred canned thousands of jars of fruit and vegetables over the years, not to mention jams and jellies of every variety and cooked three meals a day for her farming husband and family! Mildred was a seamstress of many items of clothing for her family and loved to crochet, especially afghans made from crocheted ‘granny squares’. She also crocheted sturdy rugs from any type of fabric scraps, including jeans and even incorporated plastic bags into them!

Mildred was a long-time participant of the Jerome County Fair, and each year she entered many varieties of fruits and vegetables, baking items, sewing and crafts, and of course flowers. The ribbons and rosettes she won on her entries were numerous every year, and she loved attending the fair to ‘see what she won’! Mildred’s long support of the fair over the years even led to her being named Grand Marshall of the fair parade in 2011 at the age of 86!

Mildred was a life-long devout Catholic and very involved with St Jerome’s Catholic parish. She somehow found the time to be an active member of the ‘Women’s League’ (Council of Catholic Women) for decades! She participated on the ‘calling committee’ for years, she provided beautiful bouquets of flowers for the altar, and she was the ‘Funeral Dinner Chairperson’ for many years. Also Mildred provided a ‘mailbox ministry’ at the parish, starting when stamps were only 3 cents.

Over the years, she sent countless cards to members of the parish for any type of life event or celebration; to cheer the recipient and show love and support from the parish. She always said ‘yes’ when asked to help with any parish request.

Mildred loved to write letters, and she kept in touch with all her family, near and far. She may have complained about the rising cost of postage, but it never slowed her down from sending cards and letters. All her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, and nephews received cards for their birthdays or any other special occasion. Very often, they would find sticks of gum or homemade fruit leather tucked inside.

In 2009, her husband Lee passed away, but she continued living independently until the summer of 2020. At that time, during the Covid Pandemic, she moved in with her son Gerald and daughter-in-law Anne, who lovingly cared for her. During this time, all of Mildred’s children visited her often and provided support to her care. Mildred’s daughter Susan Schilling consistently came to Jerome from her home in Salt Lake City for up to 10 days at a time, to take Mildred back to her ‘farmhouse’ and stay with her. Mildred enjoyed having two ‘back and forth’ homes until she required more assistance with her care. In 2022 she moved into Creekside Care Center and received compassionate care from their dedicated staff until her passing.

Mildred survived more than one cancer diagnosis, endured life hardships and losses over the years, yet lived a long and faith-filled life. Her strong work ethic, optimistic spirit, and innumerable charitable deeds carried her through all the accomplishments of her century of life!

Mildred was preceded in death by her 4 brothers Edwin, Dennis, Donald and Eugene Nutsch; her husband, Lee; son, Richard in 2021; daughter, Carolyn in 2021; daughter-in-law, Debbie in 2022; and daughter-in-law, Anne in 2025. She is survived by two sisters-in-law, Marge Nutsch (Donald) and Carolyn Nutsch (Eugene); sons, Ronald (Andrea), David (Cindy), Michael (Marcia), Steve, and Gerald, and daughters, Mary Winn (Chuck), and Susan Schilling (Todd). Mildred had 14 grandchildren, 11 great grandchildren, and many special nieces and nephews.

Funeral mass will be celebrated at 11:00 am, with a Rosary and viewing at 10:00 am, Friday, December 5, 2025 at St Jerome’s Catholic Church, 216 2nd Ave E, Jerome. Burial will conclude at Jerome Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to St Jerome’s Parish Council of Catholic Women.

Memories and condolences may be shared with the family on Mildred’s memorial webpage at www.farnsworthmortuary.com.