Obit: Schoolcraft, Olga Marie (1917 - 2007)

Contact:  Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
Email: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Schoolcraft, Stopa, Marek, Holub, Zillmer, Slavicek

----Sources: Banner Journal (Black River Falls, Jackson Co., WI) June 27, 2007

Schoolcraft, Olga Marie (December 1, 1917 - June 22, 2007)

Olga M. Schoolcraft, age 89, of Black River Falls, passed away Friday, June 22, 2007, at the Black River Memorial Hospital, Black River Falls.

The former Olga Marie Marek was born Dec. 1, 1917, in the Town of Komensky, Jackson County, to James and Josephine (Stopa) Marek.

She married Harvey Schoolcraft in 1943 in Black River Falls. The couple lived in the Town of Brockway all of their married lives.

Olga was first employed as a housekeeper in Chicago and later as a nurse’s aide at the former Krohn Clinic and Hospital of Black River Falls for 17 years. To this very day people remember her taking care of them and the fancy way she would fix their newborn’s hair in the OB department.

She loved her grandchildren dearly. She loved to go visiting and distance didn’t matter. She also loved to write letters, and, at Christmas time, no card went without a letter within. She used to boast about the number of cards that she sent out each year.

Olga loved to travel. No matter the final destination, if it was west - the Black Hills, Mount Rushmore and Yellowstone - were always on the route taken. They were her favorite places. Many a time she went on a whim. Most notable was the time she drove to Minneapolis, flew to California, rented a car, drove through the redwood forest and returned home the next day!

She loved to take rides just to experience the seasons around her.

Olga also enjoyed doing jigsaw puzzles. She became known as the puzzle lady at Pine View Care Center. She also loved old-time music and was quite a dancer and roller skater at Hatfield in her younger days.

Survivors include her husband, Harvey; two sons, Ken (LuAnne) Schoolcraft and Harry (LaVon) Schoolcraft, both of Black River Falls; nine grandchildren, Any, Ann, Jon, Sarah, Amber, Tyler, Shannon, Shailler and Shane; three great-grandchildren, Anthony, Maddie, and Charlie; a sister, Elsie Holub of Neillsville; and other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; a daughter, Tobi Zillmer; and a sister, Josie Slavicek.

Funeral services were held Tuesday, June 26, 2007, at 11 a.m., at the Buswell Funeral Home, Black River Falls. Rev. Kathleen Jury officiated. Burial followed in the Riverside Cemetery, Black River Falls.

Casket Bearers were Jon Schoolcraft, Tyler Schoolcraft, Shane Zillmer, Jim Zillmer, Larry Slavicek and Harold Holub.

Family and friends were invited for visitation Monday, June 25, 2007, from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. at the Buswell Funeral Home. Family and friends were also invited for visitation Tuesday, June 26, 2007, from 10 a.m. until the time of the service at the funeral home.

Buswell Funeral Home(www.buswellfuneralhome.com ) assisted the family with arrangements.