Olga A. Tobalsky

Olga Anne Tobalsky, 96, passed peacefully in her home, knowing her family and guardian angels were by her side, Wednesday, December 8, 2010. She was under the care of Aspirus Comfort Care and Hospice Services. She was born to Henry and Elizabeth (Weideman) Scheelk, on March 15, 1914. Olga grew up on her family farm just west of Fenwood, in the town of Wien. She loved to sing and play piano and guitar. She and her brother Lorence would see to it that get-togethers were alive with music and laughter. At a dance in Edgar, she met Lawrence William Tobalsky, of Rib Falls—It was love at first sight. They were married the first day of summer, June 21, 1934. Olga was no stranger to work. As a young girl, she moved to Wausau to work as a private housekeeper. She treasured the etiquette she learned at that job and used it throughout her life, personalizing it for her own family. During the war, she and Larry worked on their farm in Aniwa with their two young sons. In the years that followed, Olga worked as a seamstress and inspector at Marathon Rubber Plant. Olga was a caregiver all her life. With Larry, she raised four children (including a set of twins) and two foster children. She also took care of Larry’s younger brothers, and in her 70s, she helped to raise her two youngest grandchildren, which she always claimed kept her young. She volunteered in the Ministry of Praise, St. Cecilia’s Circle, and St. Catherine’s Council at Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church and was a Den Mother of Holy Name’s Cub Scouts Troup 462. Never one to leave the house without her lipstick on, Olga was always polished in her appearance. She loved to sew, can, and cook. Her apple pies were unbeatable—made exclusively from the apples she picked off the tree in her own backyard. She always had a huge flower garden and spent time competing with her neighboring friends for the showiest blooms. Inside her home, her angels surrounded her. In her later years, her silver hair was never out of place, and her quick wit and musical talents never left her. She loved when friends and family visited so she could play them a tune on her harmonica or her electronic keyboard. Olga’s wishes were to remain in her own home, thus her daughter Judy and her grandsons Robert and Joshua returned the love she had shown them, becoming her in-home caregivers. Olga is survived by her 4 children: Robert (wife, Suzanne) Tobalsky, Ronald (wife, Anne) Tobalsky, Jack Tobalsky, and Judy Quaderer; 2 foster children: Jim (wife, Julie) Sladich and Frank Sladich; 11 grandchildren: Rick Tobalsky, Reyné Check, Steven Tobalsky, Christine Smith, Michael Tobalsky, John Tobalsky, Sarah Thurs, Todd Quaderer, Robert Quaderer, and Joshua Quaderer; 17 great-grandchildren; as well as nieces, nephews, other family members, and friends. Along with her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Larry, and her 12 brothers and sisters: Gertrude (Walter) Petri, Emma (Richard) Radtke, Edna (William) Haas, Lorentina (Otto) Busse, Lorence (Dorothy) Scheelk, Martin Scheelk, Martina (Ralph) Randt, Leona (Gilman) Treu, Fredericka Scheelk, Johnnie Scheelk, Amanda (Alfred) Luedtke, and Henry (Lydia) Scheelk, Jr. A memorial mass will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, December 11, 2010, at Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church, 1104 S. 9th Ave., Wausau. Reverend Gerald Pehler will officiate. Visitation will be held from 4-8:00 p.m. Friday at Peterson / Kramer Funeral Home, Wausau, and again on Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service at the church. Burial will be on Monday at Restlawn Memorial Park. Peterson / Kraemer Funeral Home, 3400 Stewart Ave., Wausau, is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be expressed at www.petersonkraemer.com