Theresa E. Starks

1912 - 2011

Starks, Theresa E.

Theresa E. Starks, 99, Waupaca, formerly of Amherst, died Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2011, at Crystal River Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Waupaca.

She was born March 15, 1912, in the township of Amherst, Portage County, Wis., the daughter of John and Veronica (Somers) Kubisiak. She married George A. Starks on Nov. 26, 1936, at St. Patrick's Catholic Church, township of Lanark, Portage County. He preceded her in death Sept. 16, 1997.

Theresa is survived by her son, Conrad (Diana) Starks of Waupaca; daughters, Georgan (Merle) Werry of Muskego and Noell (Michael) Trzebiatowski of Amherst; 11 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren; and a brother, Paul Kubisiak of Waupaca. She is further survived by many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, John; a son, Steven; five sisters and four brothers.

Theresa loved to crochet. Many people in the area owned dolls, afghans, hats and towels, crocheted by her. She also loved to read and would often check out stacks of books from the library each week only to find out she had already read most of them. Her very favorite pastimes were cooking and baking. She was well known for this, and often brought baked goods to friends and family. When she was young she asked her father, the sheriff of Portage County, if she could quit school. Thinking she would change her mind, he told her she could but she would have to stay home to help her mother with all the cooking. His plan backfired. She was very happy with that plan because it was exactly what she had most wanted to do. She kept up with her cooking, baking and crocheting until recently when her eyesight failed. Theresa will be fondly remembered by her family members, and her granddaughters will always remember her as a hero having survived many hardships growing up.

A funeral Mass will be at 1 p.m. Monday, Aug. 29, 2011, at St. James Catholic Church in Amherst with the Rev. Jude Dioka officiating. Interment will be in the St. James Catholic Cemetery in Amherst. A visitation will be from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday at the Jungers-Holly Funeral Home in Amherst, and again from noon until 1 p.m. Monday in the church. A rosary service will be at 7 p.m. Sunday at the Amherst funeral home.

The Jungers-Holly Funeral Home of Amherst is assisting the family with arrangements.