Obit: Rakovec, Marge Elizabeth #2 (1930 - 2010)

Contact: Dolores Mohr Kenyon

Email: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Rakovec, Steil, Schwickrath, Mengel, Baer, Jansen, Malone, Laib, Mohr

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI.) December 29, 2010

Rakovec, Marge Elizabeth (17 September 1930 - 24 December 2010)

Marge Rakovec, 80, of Marshfield, formerly of Neillsville, died Friday, Dec. 24, 2010, with her loved ones by her side at St. Joseph’s Palliative Care Unit in Marshfield.

Margaret Elizabeth Schwickrath was born Sept. 17, 1930, in Chicago, Il, the daughter of Jacob and Nettie (Steil) Schwickrath.  She graduated from Flower Tech High School in Chicago as a member of the National Honor Society in 1948.  She went on to college and trained at St. Elizabeth’s School of Nursing and graduated in 1951 with a degree in nursing.  Marge was united in marriage to Frank Rakovec, April 8, 1953; they lived and farmed in Loyal.  In 1978, she moved to Neillsville and in May of 2010 she moved to Norris Manor in Marshfield.

Marge worked as a registered nurse at Norwood Health Care in Marshfield and Neillsville Memorial Nursing Home in Neillsville.  She retired from the nursing home as a night manager in 1992. 

Marge spent years researching her family tree and has traced her family back to the 1500s.  She donated blood to the Red Cross for many years, giving over 14 gallons throughout her life.  She loved her dogs, "Coke" and "Roscoe."  They gave her lots of joy and company while she was alone. She enjoyed traveling and has been to all 48 continental states.  She enjoyed crocheting, knitting, gardening, baking, canning and setting up her Christmas Village for her family to enjoy with her.  She loved to play card games with her family.  Every Monday she looked forward to her supper date with her son, Jim.  Her unique sense of humor, which got passed on to her son, Jim, and her granddaughter, Sara, will be missed.

She is survived by seven children, Deborah Rakovec, of Seattle, WA, Alan (Darlene) Rakovec of Loyal, Sandra (Donnie) Mengel, and Susan (John) Baer of Stratford, James (Debra) Rakovec of Marshfield, David Rakovec and Kathy Jo Jansen of Neillsville; 19 grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren; and a sister, Betty (Raymond) Malone of Cordova, TN.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Jacob Schwickrath (February 1958) and Nettie (Steil) Schwickrath (April 19, 1950); a brother, Josh Schwickrath (Jan. 14, 1925); a sister, Laverne (Schwickrath) Laib (Feb. 17, 1994); her husband, Frank Rakovec (Dec. 23, 1991); and a daughter, Judi Mohr (April 11, 1988).

As per Marge’s request there will not be a public viewing or memorial service.  In lieu of flowers donations to the Red Cross or the Pediatric Relay for Life to help children struggling with cancer would be preferred.  They may be sent to her family in care of the Gesche Funeral Home, 4 South Grand Avenue, Neillsville, WI 54456.

Online condolences may be made at www.geschefh.com.

The Gesche Funeral home is assisting Marge’s family with funeral arrangements.