Jeanette S. Patoka's Obituary
Jeanette Patoka, age 91, nee Sopa of Amherst, WI entered eternal life on October 7, 2017 at Ascension St. Michaels Hospital in Stevens Point, surrounded by her loving family.
A mass of Christian burial will be held at 10:00 am Saturday, October 14, 2017 at St. Mary of Mt Carmel Catholic Church - Fancher. Father Dan Hackel will preside. Burial will follow at the parish cemetery.
Family and friends will gather to share memories from 3:00 – 8:00 pm on Friday, October 13, 2017 at the Jungers-Holly Funeral Home in Amherst. A rosary will be prayed at 7:30 pm at the funeral home on Friday evening. Family and friends will continue to share memories on Saturday, October 14, 2017 from 8:30 to 10:00 am prior to the mass.
Jeanette was born May 2, 1926 in the Town of Lanark to Joseph and Johanna (Konkol) Sopa. She attended local grade schools at Valley View and Fancher.
She worked many years on the Sopa Family farm near Spring Lake. In 1943, she moved to Milwaukee to work at Cutler & Hammer on an assembly line repairing airplane switches to support the war effort, while also attending vocational school one day a week in machine shop. She returned to work on the family farm the following spring. Then in 1944, she moved to Milwaukee and worked at International Harvestor Company. Upon arrival, her supervisor told Jeanette and her peers “you girls won’t last”. Her job was to place bent rods into a machine for straightening, and she did just fine. Needed back again at the farm, she returned the following spring.
She married the love of her life, Leonard Patoka, on August 16, 1947 at St. Mary of Mt Carmel Catholic Church - Fancher. After their marriage, they purchased a farm and farmed in the Town of Buena Vista until his death. Jeanette continued to do the farm bookkeeping without a computer until her death. She was recognized as a Pioneer Woman at the 2014 Farm Technology Days and was a contributing writer for the book, “Farm Girl.”
She enjoyed singing and playing musical instruments. She did not know how to read music but could play the guitar, piano, organ, concertina and harmonica. She also enjoyed dancing, cooking, fishing, writing, baseball, bird watching, gardening, especially her flowers and visiting local casinos. But her pride and joy were her family, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
She was active locally in her church. She was a member of the church choir and the Ladies Rosary Society for over 50 years, serving as an officer for many years. She also was responsible for decorating the church alter for 15 years.
Jeanette is survived by her eight children: Don (Diana) of Amherst; Michael “Murray” of St. Paul; Bill (Ann) and Mary Patoka (Dave Onan), all of Amherst; Barb (Jeff) Laskowski and Gerard “Gary” (Lori), all of Plover; Chris “Tina” (Mark) Arend of Stevens Point; and Deborah (Dale) Jastromski of Plover.
She is further survived by 16 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren: Stacy (Steve) Cieslewicz and their children Brad and Stephanie, Shaina (Dale) Peterson and their children Ty, Mason & Hailey, Joe (Jodi) Patoka and their children Riley, Brady and Carlee, Jenny (Jason) Kirsling and their children Jacob, Harlee and Kendall, Matt (Jenni) Patoka and their daughter Ali, Andy Onan, Crystal (Joe) Kirschling and their children Jackson and Evan, Dawn (Corey) Marschke and their children Paige and Grant, Robyn (Kris Olds), Beth (Lance “Bubba”) O’Brien and their daughter Adelynn, Brittany (Brandon Stampfli), Seth (fiancée, Jazmyn Pagel) and their children Drake and Dean, Trent Arend, Kelly (fiancé, Gregg Trudell), Kyle and Kevin Jastromski.
She is further survived by her sister, Lucy (Art) Baldewicz, her sister-in-law, Grace (Leonard) Sopa; sisters-in-law, Genevieve (Norb) Shulfer and Lorraine (Florian) Buza; many nieces and nephews; her special friend, Mary Groholski and extended second family, the Shulfers, as well.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Leonard; a granddaughter, Brianne; five brothers and their spouses, Barney (Irene), Zigmund (Lillian), Edwin (Sally), Hank (Laura) and Leonard; and four sisters and their spouses, Florence Sopa (in infancy), Chesterine (Eddie) Dombrowski, Emily (Ben) Raschka, and Evelyn (Frank) Rusch.
Jeanette’s family would like to extend their deep appreciation to the wonderful medical staff who have cared for her over the years, and especially Angela Rhode, NP and Dr. Raina and the team in the IMC whose compassionate care over this past month mirrored the kind of person Jeanette was to so many. Also, among her care team were her precious granddaughters, Brittany, Beth, and Crystal.
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