1921
Violet
2009
Violet Gresens
April 20, 1921 — April 4, 2009
Violet E. Gresens, believing in Jesus Christ as her Savior, entered into her eternal rest on April 4, 2009.
She was born on April 20, 1921, in the Town of Maine, to Robert and Lydia (Genrich) Machel. She was baptized and confirmed in St. John Lutheran Church in the Town of Maine. On June 1, 1940, also at St. John, she married Walter Gresens. Together they operated a dairy farm in the town of Marathon, creating their farm by clearing the land of trees and stumps, just as their pioneer ancestors had done. Their marriage was blessed with four children: Marlene (Paul) Lober, of Jackson; Robert (Janice) of the Town of Marathon; Daniel (Phyllis) of Appleton; and Patricia (Randy) Durst of Wausau.
Violet nursed her husband for more than a dozen years before his death, as he suffered from multiple sclerosis. At the same time she continued to operate the farm with the help of her children and other family members and friends. After his death in 1968, she began working in the cafeteria at Employer’s Mutual Insurance, in Wausau. She became a cook there and later became the manager of cafeterias in their separate buildings. She retired in 1991, but then became a part-time cook at Rib River Ballroom for a number of years.
Violet was an inspiration to, and a vital part of, the lives of her children, 14 grandchildren, and 27 great-grandchildren. She never missed an opportunity to be helpful and did all she could for them and others. She enjoyed being busy and spent many hours over the years volunteering at the Dime and Dollar Shop and at Wausau Aspirus Hospital. She was an organist at her church, St. Matthew Lutheran in Marathon, for over 50 years. She was involved in organizations within her church and in the church at large. She regularly attended the local and national conventions of the Lutheran Women’s Missionary Society (LWMS) and the Older WELS Lutherans (OWLS). She also loved to play bridge and other card games with friends and family. She reached out in love to many people, moved by her Savior’s love for her. She will be missed.
She is further survived by her grandchildren, their spouses, and great-grandchildren: Tim Lober (Spencer Shafer), St. Paul, MN; Matt (Char) Lober and Victoria, Juneau; Rebecca (Bob) Johnson, Alex and Jadon, Fredonia; Andrew (Paula) Lober, Andrew Jr. and Emma, Menomonee Falls; Greg Gresens, Zane and Sydney, Schofield; Kurt Gresens, Reid, Grant, and Paige, Green Bay; Eric (Jenna) Gresens, Carmen and Masame, Edgerton; Michael (Cathy) Gresens, August, Jada, Tyler, Kyra, and Alyssa, Brookfield; Emily (Johnold) Strey and Lydia and Julia, Belmont, CA; David Gresens, Appleton; Nathaniel Gresens, Appleton; Jennifer (Scott) Longdo, Dakota and Mackenzie, Marathon; Jon (Kari) Durst, Kailey, Kaleb, Morgan, and Madilyn, Mosinee; and Julianne (Keith) Kreager, Landon and Mavrick, Marathon.
She is also survived by brothers- and sister-in-law, Wilmer Gresens, Arvilla and James Berens, nieces and nephews, and special friend, Leona Kirstein.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Walter, her great-grandson, Dawson Kreager, her brother, Harold Machel, her sister, Verna Schniederwent, four sisters-in-law, three brothers-in-law, and her parents.
A funeral service will be held at St. Matthew Lutheran Church, Marathon, on Wednesday, April 8, 2009, at Noon. The Reverend Jon W. Hadler will officiate. Burial will follow at St. Matthew Cemetery, Marathon. Visitation will be at Helke Funeral Home, Tuesday, from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. and at the church on Wednesday from 11:00 a.m. until the time of services.
You may sign our family guestbook at www.helke.com.
The family wishes to thank the volunteers, nurses, and caretaker at Aspirus Hospice House who made Violet’s last months as pleasant as possible.
She was born on April 20, 1921, in the Town of Maine, to Robert and Lydia (Genrich) Machel. She was baptized and confirmed in St. John Lutheran Church in the Town of Maine. On June 1, 1940, also at St. John, she married Walter Gresens. Together they operated a dairy farm in the town of Marathon, creating their farm by clearing the land of trees and stumps, just as their pioneer ancestors had done. Their marriage was blessed with four children: Marlene (Paul) Lober, of Jackson; Robert (Janice) of the Town of Marathon; Daniel (Phyllis) of Appleton; and Patricia (Randy) Durst of Wausau.
Violet nursed her husband for more than a dozen years before his death, as he suffered from multiple sclerosis. At the same time she continued to operate the farm with the help of her children and other family members and friends. After his death in 1968, she began working in the cafeteria at Employer’s Mutual Insurance, in Wausau. She became a cook there and later became the manager of cafeterias in their separate buildings. She retired in 1991, but then became a part-time cook at Rib River Ballroom for a number of years.
Violet was an inspiration to, and a vital part of, the lives of her children, 14 grandchildren, and 27 great-grandchildren. She never missed an opportunity to be helpful and did all she could for them and others. She enjoyed being busy and spent many hours over the years volunteering at the Dime and Dollar Shop and at Wausau Aspirus Hospital. She was an organist at her church, St. Matthew Lutheran in Marathon, for over 50 years. She was involved in organizations within her church and in the church at large. She regularly attended the local and national conventions of the Lutheran Women’s Missionary Society (LWMS) and the Older WELS Lutherans (OWLS). She also loved to play bridge and other card games with friends and family. She reached out in love to many people, moved by her Savior’s love for her. She will be missed.
She is further survived by her grandchildren, their spouses, and great-grandchildren: Tim Lober (Spencer Shafer), St. Paul, MN; Matt (Char) Lober and Victoria, Juneau; Rebecca (Bob) Johnson, Alex and Jadon, Fredonia; Andrew (Paula) Lober, Andrew Jr. and Emma, Menomonee Falls; Greg Gresens, Zane and Sydney, Schofield; Kurt Gresens, Reid, Grant, and Paige, Green Bay; Eric (Jenna) Gresens, Carmen and Masame, Edgerton; Michael (Cathy) Gresens, August, Jada, Tyler, Kyra, and Alyssa, Brookfield; Emily (Johnold) Strey and Lydia and Julia, Belmont, CA; David Gresens, Appleton; Nathaniel Gresens, Appleton; Jennifer (Scott) Longdo, Dakota and Mackenzie, Marathon; Jon (Kari) Durst, Kailey, Kaleb, Morgan, and Madilyn, Mosinee; and Julianne (Keith) Kreager, Landon and Mavrick, Marathon.
She is also survived by brothers- and sister-in-law, Wilmer Gresens, Arvilla and James Berens, nieces and nephews, and special friend, Leona Kirstein.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Walter, her great-grandson, Dawson Kreager, her brother, Harold Machel, her sister, Verna Schniederwent, four sisters-in-law, three brothers-in-law, and her parents.
A funeral service will be held at St. Matthew Lutheran Church, Marathon, on Wednesday, April 8, 2009, at Noon. The Reverend Jon W. Hadler will officiate. Burial will follow at St. Matthew Cemetery, Marathon. Visitation will be at Helke Funeral Home, Tuesday, from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. and at the church on Wednesday from 11:00 a.m. until the time of services.
You may sign our family guestbook at www.helke.com.
The family wishes to thank the volunteers, nurses, and caretaker at Aspirus Hospice House who made Violet’s last months as pleasant as possible.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Violet Gresens, please visit our flower store.