Kannikar Elbow

MADISON-Kannikar Elbow, of Madison, age 57, passed away on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2016, at UW Hospital, Madison, WI, following a 5-month struggle with cancer. Kannikar was born on July 30, 1959, in Khon Kaen, Thailand, the daughter of Pan and Wong Chanprasert. She married Kent Elbow on June 21, 1989, in Madison. Since 2004, Kannikar has been an enthusiastic teacher of the Thai language at UW-Madison, and an active member and supporter of Thai, Asian and associated academic communities within the university and more broadly in Madison. Before 2004, she lived for many years with her family in three different African countries where she learned to speak French and became conversant in several native languages, and came to be a well-loved member of local communities. Kannikar loved the sharing of diverse cultural traits and practices, such as teaching Thai cooking to Africans and expatriates, and learning to cook a wide variety of African dishes. Prior to moving to the United States in 1987 to earn a Master's Degree in Public Administration at UW-Madison, Kannikar taught Thai language and culture for 8 years to Peace Corps Volunteers in Thailand. Throughout her life Kannikar remained deeply devoted to her family in Thailand, and proud to represent and share the society and culture of the country in which she'd lived for the first 28 years of her life. At the same time, she embraced the rich diversity she encountered through her students and during her travels, and actively maintained broad networks of friends that spanned the continents of Asia, Africa, North America and beyond. Above all, Kannikar provided a deeply loving and unconditional foundation for her family, including her husband, Kent, and two sons, Paul and Santi, who survive her. She is also survived by her mother, Pan, and her five siblings in Thailand. A Memorial Observance and Ceremony will take place at the LAO/THAI BUDDHIST TEMPLE, 2805 Warner Lane, Madison, WI, on Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2016 as follows: 10 AM – Buddhist ceremony; 12 PM – lunch; 1-2 PM – Memorial Remarks by family and friends. Cremation will take place at 4 PM at Gunderson Funeral and Cremation Care, 1358 Hwy 51 North, Stoughton, WI. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the UW Carbone Cancer Center, the Mayo Clinic Sarcoma Center, or the Sarcoma Foundation of America. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com. Gunderson East Funeral & Cremation Care 5203 Monona Drive (608)221-5420