Margaret (Johnson) Wolske

Margaret Wolske, age 84, of Roberts, Wisconsin died Thursday, August 20, 2020 at Hammond Health Services.

Visitation is from 9:30 until 10:30 on Thursday, August 27, 2020, at the Roberts Congregational United Church of Christ in Roberts, Wisconsin.

Funeral service for Margaret will be at 11 a.m. following visitation at the church.  Masks and social/physical distancing is required.  The service will be live-streamed at https://youtu.be/zL10Vwa1HQE.

Burial will be in St John’s Lutheran Cemetery, Spring Valley.

  Margaret was born June 21, 1936 to Henry and Annie (Benson) Johnson in Spring Lake Township, Pierce County, Wisconsin.

  She remembered the flood of 1942 when everything at their home in Spring Lake was lost, except the house and barn.  She attended Brookside School in Spring Lake her first year.  In the spring of 1943, after the flood, her family moved to Woodville, Wisconsin where she attended the Wildwood Country Grade School through the 8th grade.  She attended Woodville High School for the next 3 years. She moved to Elmwood, Wisconsin in May 1953 and worked for Mr. and Mrs. Elmer McKernon that summer before she started working for Dr. and Mrs. Elmer Theisse to help care for their two boys.  She graduated from Elmwood High School in 1954.

  While in school, Margaret met Lyman Wolske.  On October 26, 1957, Lyman and Margaret were married in Bruce, Wisconsin by Rev. Becker.  He was the former Pastor at the Lutheran Church in Elmwood.  Lyman and Margaret lived in Hudson, Wisconsin until August 1958 when Lyman was drafted into the U.S. Army.  Margaret moved back to her parent’s home in February 1959 where she lived until after her first son Garry Wolske was born.  She then moved to Elmwood and lived there until Lyman was discharged from the Army on August 14, 1960.  They moved to Hudson where Lyman worked at NorLake and Margaret babysat.  In 1964, their second son was born, Lyman Bruce Wolske, Jr.  They lived in Hudson until February 1967 when they bought a home in Roberts, Wisconsin.

  Margaret was active in her church at Gethsemane Lutheran in Baldwin.  She was president of WELCA for 2 years, taught Sunday School, sang in church choir, served on the Board of Deacons and helped out in other areas of the church.

 She worked as a baker and clerk in several stores in the area, including The Lutheran Home in River Falls and American Heritage Home in Hammond.  She worked as a receptionist at the New Richmond Chiropractic Clinic for 20 years and she volunteered at various care centers in the area.

  In August of 1988, Polly Kamm Greenfield opened a home bakery at the Howard Greenfield Farm.  She and Margaret enjoyed baking and making many crafts.  They operated Maypole bakery until Polly’s untimely death on December 8, 1995.  Margaret closed the bakery because the fun of baking was gone without Polly.  Margaret sang with the Happy Wanderers for several years and helped get the Senior Dining Site started in Roberts.  She was also a member of the Roberts Lions Club, and a member of the American Heritage Care Center Auxiliary. 

  Margaret was surprised with the Roberts Good Neighbor Award at the 2012 Community Appreciation Dinner for “truly being a friend to everybody in the community and exemplifying what it means to be a good neighbor.”  In 2019, Margaret was awarded the Melvin Jones Fellowship – one of the highest honors a Lion can receive.  She is the only Roberts resident to receive both of these awards.  Margaret was driven by her endearing love and devotion for her family, friends, and community.

  She was preceded in death by her husband Lyman; parents Henry and Annie Johnson; sister and brother-in-law Caroline and Leon Schoeder; nephew Rory Johnson; sisters-in-law Ruth Johnson and Carleen Johnson; brothers Walter and his wife Marge, and Lyle Johnson; in-laws Oscar and Esther Wolske, Leona and Andy Gramroth, Donald Anderson, Dorla and Clarence Holm, and Mabel Wolske.

  She is survived by her sons Garry (Elizabeth) Wolske of Sutton, AK; Lyman (Kristine) Wolske of Hudson, Wisconsin; grandchildren: Heather (Lance) Amos; Chad (Angel) Wolske; Danielle Wolske; Amanda (Tristan) O’Driscoll; Jeffrey Wolske; and Sara Wolske; great grandchildren: Hailee, Victoria, Alexis, Skylee, Isabella, Isla, Ronan, Nate, Scott, and Carlee; brothers and sisters-in-law: Julie Johnson; Adolph Johnson; Gerald (Carol) Johnson; Richard (Lynda) Johnson; Joseph Johnson; LaVere (Joyce) Wolske; several nieces and nephews, plus a host of other relatives and friends.

  Bearers are Heather Amos, Chad Wolske, Danielle Wolske, Amanda O’Driscoll, Jeffrey Wolske, and Sara Wolske.

Memorials are preferred to the Roberts Food Shelf. http://robertsucc.org/food-pantry/

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