Patricia K. Kolka's Obituary
Patricia Kay Kolka, 78 of Wild Rose, WI, died peacefully at ThedaCare Regional Medical Center in Appleton, WI on Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021, following a battle with lymphoma.
She was born on April 6, 1943 in Wild Rose, WI, daughter of Peter and Bernice (Olson) Stea.
She graduated from Wild Rose High School in 1961, and attended secretarial school in Milwaukee, WI. On June 6, 1964, she married James F. Kolka in Wautoma, WI and moved to Appleton, WI, where she raised three children. During those years, she was an active volunteer leading a Brownie troop and assisting with school hot lunches at Woodlawn Elementary School and serving as a playground monitor, handling the school uniform program, doing church laundry and helping Hmong refugees learn to speak English through the St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Appleton, WI. When her children were grown, she spent several years working at Menard’s in Appleton. WI, and then returned home to Wild Rose, WI to retire with James on Gilbert Lake, where she continued to volunteer actively with several organizations including the lake association for Gilbert Lake and the Wild Rose Hospital Auxiliary.
Patricia is survived by her husband James Kolka of Wild Rose, WI; her daughters, Corrine (Kolka) Welt of Salt Lake City, UT and Julie Kolka of Boca Raton, FL; her son, Peter Kolka of Flagstaff, AZ and her grandchildren Robert Welt, James Welt and Madison Kolka.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Peter Stea and Bernice (Olson) Stea and her brother Melvin Stea.
Patricia was the most loving mother, grandmother and wife, who will be remembered for her endless service to her family, friends and community.
Funeral mass was on Thursday, December 23, 2021 at 11:00 am at St. Mary Magdalene Catholic Church in Waupaca, WI with Father Xavier Santiago presiding. Burial will be in the Bohemian Cemetery in Wild Rose, WI.
Visitation was from 4 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, December 22, 2021 at Holly Funeral Home, 630 County Road CR-GH, Wild Rose, WI 54984 and again from 10:00 am Thursday until the time of services at the church.
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