12 AMERY FREE PRESS
SPIRITUAL
DECEMBER 8, 2015
OBITUARIES
Gertrude E. Moriak
Marsha A. Jensen
Gertrude E. Moriak, age 94 of Amery, WI passed away on Thursday November 19, 2015 at Golden Age Manor, Amery, WI, where she has been living for the past eight years. Gertrude E. Moriak was born on May 30, 1921, in Barron County, the daughter of John and Elizabeth (Ritsche) Schmitz. Most of her childhood she lived in Barron County, WI, and attended St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Turtle Lake, WI. She attended Sunny Slope Country School through the eighth grade. Gertrude was married to Frank Moriak in Turtle Lake, WI on October 14, 1941. Together they made their home with Frank’s parents and siblings in Vance Creek. They had 9 children, from 1942 1965. Gertrude and her 5 youngest children joined Holy Trinity Orthodox Church in 1965. Gertrude and Frank moved to Oak Terrace apartments in Clayton on 7/7/77, where they were caretakers and still helped out at the farm. In December 1992, they moved to Evergreen apartments in Amery until her last move to Golden Age Manor in August of 2007. Over the years Gertrude was a homemaker, gardener, farmer, World Book and Amway saleswoman. She was a 4-H leader for over 25 years, involved and active in NFO, Farmer’s Union and every woman’s organization she could be. She loved to travel, do crossword puzzles, read and crochet. Everyone in the family has multiple afghans plus she donated an afghan for many years to the church raffle. She also had a collection of post cards. Since Gertrude helped all her children through high school and 6 of them through college, she decided to try for her GED. She received her GED Diploma from the State Superintendent in 1987. Gertrude had a big heart. In 1962 she took in a neighbor’s infant daughter, which was intended to be for a couple of weeks and she was blessed to have her for nearly 5 years. Preceding her in death were her parents; husband Frank; 2 brothers Jerome and John. Survivors include her 9 children: Ted (Susan) Moriak of Centreville, VA, Sheila (Ron) Dietrich of Almena, WI, Dale (Joyce) Moriak of Barron, WI, Terese (Dennis) Farrar of Sun City West, AZ, Craig (Pam) Moriak of Amery, WI, Rollan (Linda) Moriak of Mary Esther, FL, Tim (Lori) Moriak of Turtle Lake, WI, Tom (Lisa) Moriak of Amery, WI, Nicola (Greg) Hazen of Clear Lake, WI. Foster daughter, Caroline Austin of Clayton, WI; 25 Grandchildren, 29 Great-Grandchildren, 5 Great-Great Grandchildren; brother, Raymond Schmitz of Hudson, WI; sister, Mary Ann (Allen) Nelson of LaCrosse, WI; many family and friends. Visitation is December 11, 2015, 4-7 p.m. at Williamson-White Funeral Home, Amery, WI and one hour prior to the service at the church. Funeral service is 11 a.m. December 12, 2015 at Holy Trinity Orthodox Church, Clayton, WI. Fr. Christopher Wojcik officiating. Pallbearers are her 9 children and family members. Interment is at Holy Trinity Orthodox Church Cemetery after the service. Memorials preferred to Holy Trinity Orthodox Church for Capital Improvements, 523 1st Street, Clayton, WI 54004. The family would like to extend their sincere appreciation for the compassionate care our mother, Gertrude, received at Golden Age Manor in Amery. To sign an online guest book and view a video tribute, visit www.williamsonwhite.com. Arrangements were made with the Williamson-White Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Amery.
Marsha Ann Jensen (nee Sheehan) was born October 10, 1948 in Amery, WI to Marshall and Wilma Sheehan of Milltown, WI. Marsha passed peacefully at home surrounded by her family on Saturday, November 28, 2015 after her courageous four-year battle with cancer. Marsha was born and passed away in Polk County, but spent much of her early and teen life traversing the country with her father, mother and brothers while her father worked on large scale construction projects. Marsha and her brothers attended 22 different schools while traveling around the country. Marsha’s family returned to the Polk County area in 1967 after Marsha’s High School Graduation from Del Rio Public High School in Del Rio, TX. Marsha worked at Minnesota Plastics in St. Paul, MN before enrolling at UW-Stout in Menomonie, WI. In August of 1970 Marsha married Mark W. Jensen of Luck, WI. Mark and Marsha’s first married years were spent in Menomonie and Neenah, WI where their children, Jacob and Jacqueline, were born. In 1976 Mark and Marsha came back to Luck to join Mark’s parents, Levi and Harriet, in the family business of Jensen Furniture. Marsha spent their first years in Luck raising their children and doing child care from their home in Luck. Marsha officially joined the family business in 1984 where she worked side by side with her family until her health would not allow her to. Marsha was actively involved in the American Legion Auxillary Post 255 where she served as an officer of different capacities, over a decade on the Luck Village Board, Kinship Mentor, Luck Winter Carnival Little Miss Pageant Coordinator, Luck Commercial and Community Club, and Luck Lutheran Church. While Marsha did not favor the “limelight” of public affection she graciously accepted the opportunity to be Honorary Chair of the Luck Cancer Society Cancer Walk in 2013 and Grand Marshal for the Luck Winter Carnival in 2014. Marsha’s greatest enjoyment was spending time with her family, including seven grandchildren. Along with being a talented gardener, Marsha was an excellent cook and loved spending time in her
Sylvia E. Schmidt Sylvia Elizabeth Schmidt, 95, of Turtle Lake passed away Saturday, December 5, 2015 at Golden Age Manor in Amery. She was born July 17, 1920 in Prairie Farm, WI to Oscar and Gladys (Pearson) Wold. Sylvia attended grade school at Breen School in Prairie Farm and graduated from Clayton High School in 1940. After working for several years at Montgomery Wards in St. Paul, MN, she was married in Stillwater, MN on June 17, 1948 to Kenneth Schmidt who preceded her in death on May 6, 2007. They purchased a farm near Clayton where they lived for 40 plus years and raised their children. In addition to being a hard working farmers wife and the mother of 4 children, Sylvia worked at Jerome Foods and was very active in her church. In later years, she enjoyed sewing, making countless dolls, from Raggedy Anns' to cabbage patch and
kitchen cooking for her family, teaching her daughter, daughter-in-law, and granddaughters her craft, and her gift of hosting annual family gatherings where Marsha would graciously open the doors of their home for all to enjoy. Marsha also enjoyed sightseeing from her and Mark’s motorcycle, camping with the grandkids, taking (self-named) “putt putts” around Big Butternut Lake on their pontoon, attending her grandchildren’s many athletic and musical events, and reminiscing about her family history. Marsha was preceded in death by her parents, Marshall and Wilma (Jensen-Reitz) Sheehan; her oldest brother, Leroy (Dixie Mabry) Carston; brother, Pat Sheehan; sister-in-law, Jane Sheehan; and niece, Cherie Strohl. Marsha is survived by her husband, Mark; children, Jacob J. (Sonja) Jensen and Jacqueline (Craig) Gordon; brother, Timothy J. Sheehan; niece, Emily L. Sheehan; grandchildren, Isabelle Ann Jensen, Levi Marshall Jensen, Wyatt Jacob Jensen, Julia Ruby Gordon, Marshall Ray Gordon, Jameson Jensen Gordon, and Blake Joseph Tomandl; sisterin-law, Dixie Carston and her children, Charlene Carston, Charles Carston, and Cindy Fitton; sister-in-law, Margaret (Bill) Jensen Connet and her children, Daniel, Andrew, and Samuel; and many great-nieces and great-nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins, and dear friends. The family would like to thank the members of Luck and surrounding communities for all of the well wishing and prayers sent Marsha’s way, along with the caregiving team from Lean On Me Homecare, and St. Croix Hospice. Marsha’s family has requested Memorials be designated to the American Legion Auxiliary Post 255, The Courage Center, Hope House and Interfaith Caregivers of Polk County, Luck Lutheran Church, Luck Public Library, Luther Point Bible Camp, and Kinship of Polk County. Visitation will be held at Luck Lutheran Church on Sunday, December 6th from 5 to 7:00 p.m. A Memorial Service will be held at Luck Lutheran on Monday, December 7th at 11:00 a.m. with one hour visitation prior to the service. You are invited to sign an online guestbook at www.rowefh.com or www.wicremationcenter.com . Arrangements are entrusted to Rowe Funeral Home in Luck, 715-472-2444 and the Northwest Wisconsin Cremation Center in Milltown, 715-825-5550.
amish dolls, for all of her kids and grandkids. She also enjoyed crocheting afghans, quilting and baking thousands of chocolate chip cookies for everyone. After Kenneth's death, due to declining health, Sylvia moved to Golden Age Manor. She enjoyed taking part in the activities there and always said they had the best food and it was a pretty good place to live. Sylvia is survived by her son, John (Rebecca) Schmidt of Birchwood; daughters, Pat Berghammer (Gene Andren) of Turtle Lake, Cathy (Dale) Stepan of Turtle Lake and Lori (Todd) Johnson of Clayton; 9 grandchildren; 9 great grandchildren with one on the way and sister, Margaret Greschner of Barron. She was preceded in death by husband, parents and sisters, June Zemke and Nadine Gruenwald. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, December 10, 2015 at Silver Creek Lutheran Church, Clayton WI with Rev. Gregory Becker officiating. Burial will be in Clayton Cemetery. Pallbearers are Chris Berghammer, Corey Berghammer, Joe Mathison, Sam Sventek, Joel Cormican and Bobby Shea. Visitation will be from 10:00-11:00 a.m. on Thursday at the church. Skinner Funeral Home of Turtle Lake is serving the family.