Gritt Tobalski

Gritt J. Tobalski, 82, of Wausau, passed away on Friday, December 2, 2011, at Mount View Care Center – Gardenside Crossing. She was born to the late Henrich and Margaret Pfeifer on October 4, 1929 in Berlin, Germany. She married George Tobalski in Rodelheim, Germany on December 8, 1948. In 1952 they moved to Wausau, where she spent the rest of her life. She attended the Wausau Technical Institute and worked for Wausau Hospital as a nursing assistant.
Gritt's family and friends will forever remember her as an individual who lived the message embodied in the Christian song, "I Am Every Man." She treated everyone as if God walked in their shoes. From the very moment she left Germany and arrived here in the United States, after marrying her husband, George the American soldier, she made a difference in the lives of others. She volunteered at Holy Name Parish, with the Marathon County Deanery, the Salvation Guild, and as a lifeguard and swimming instructor for those in religious vocations. She committed countless time and talents to the Tree of Love and Festival of Trees for Aspirus Hospice. And she welcomed Native American women and inner city Milwaukee youth into her family's home because it was simply her way of helping others who had less. Put simply, Gritt always gave more than she asked for.
Gritt is survived by her husband, George, of Wausau; children, Holly (Jim) Peterson of Lansing, MI, Anna (Don) Honrath of Keller, TX, and Jim (Jenifer) Tobalski of Charlotte, NC; and grandchildren, Jerod Honrath of Dallas, TX, Christopher Honrath of Dallas, TX, Lilly Peterson of Lansing, MI, and Katelyn Tobalski of Charlotte, NC.
She was preceded in death by her parents; and daughter, Katrina Tobalski.
A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 11:30 am by Rev. Steven Brice at the Church of St. Anne, 700 West Bridge St, on Tuesday, December 6, 2011. Friends and family may call beginning at 6:00 pm until 8:00 pm on Monday, December 5, 2011, at Helke Funeral Home, Wausau.
You may sign the family guestbook at www.helke.com.
The family extends their gratitude to the staff of Mt. View Care Center-Gardenside Crossing and Aspirus Comfort Care and Hospice Services for the excellent care Gritt received.
Memorials may be directed to Aspirus Comfort Care and Hospice Services or Friends of North Central Health Care, Attn: Mary Ventzke, 1100 Lake View Dr., Wausau, WI, 54403.