Obit: Cukla, Anna Mary (1915 - 2013)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Cukla, Iskra, Pancyrz, Kostick, Debold, Kowalczyk, Struck, Denzin, Barker, Heiting, Piekarz, Shea, Clark, Raju

----Source: Thorp Courier (Thorp, Clark Co, WI) 1/01/2014

Cukla, Anna Mary (30 July 1915 - 24 December 2013)

Anna M. Cukla, age 98, of Thorp, passed away on Tuesday, December 24, 2013, at Our Lady of Victory Hospital in Stanley. Funeral services were held at 11a.m. on Monday December 30, 2013, at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church in Lublin. Rev. Madanu Sleeva Raju officiated and burial followed in the parish cemetery, with Anna’s grandchildren serving as pallbearers. Visitation was held at the church, on Monday from 10 >m. until time of service.

Anna Mary Pancyrz was born on July 30, 1915, in Ironwood, MI, the daughter of Frank and Sophia (Iskra) Pancyrz. When she was four years old her family moved to the Mitterhoffer area, rural Thorp, where she was raised and educated at area schools. Anna was united in marriage to Charles A. Cukla on September 3, 1932, at St. Mary’s Czestochowa Catholic Church in rural Stanley. They farmed for over 50 years in the town of Taft until their retirement. She continued to live in the Town of Taft after Charlie’s death, until entering the CoHo Assisted Living Center in Thorp. Anna was a member of St. Stanislaus Catholic Church and its PCCW.

She loved and cared for all of her children. He love for cooking, gardening, and canning kept a family of 11 going, and never with a complaint. Anna also loved her hats. He wore a hat where ever she went, and was a person who could wear one with style, just like the Queen. At present, she has 69 hats. She also loved to read. Anna would cut out clippings, save them, and put them in an envelope. If it reminded her of someone special, she would put it in a special envelope with their name on it. Many of her children follow the same pattern.

She loved to dress up. Her family understood and helped her have the clothing that brought her joy. If she was going to church or any outing, she would lay out her clothes on the bed, the night before and make sure everything was pressed to perfection. She passed this on to her children as well. Not only was she a perfectionist in her appearance, but she would also bake the best apple pie and filet a fish better than anyone else in Taylor County.

Thanks to great neighbors and friends, she was able to stay in her home until age 94. They called her morning and night, made sure her driveway was plowed out and took care of the necessary things in everyday life.

Anna is survived by nine children: Gertrude (Roman) Kostick of Ladysmith, Evelyn (Peter) Debold of Jump River, Carole Kowalczyk of Loyal, Pat Struck of Milwaukee, Harriet Denzin (special friend Tom) of Milwaukee, Mary Barker of Phoenix, AZ, Barbara (Leonard) Heiting of Phillips, James (Karen) Cukla of Rockport, TX, Delores (Dale) Piekarz of Phoenix, AZ; 30 grandchildren; 40 great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren. Anna is further survived by her special family friend, Donna Cukla; many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Charles; three grandchildren: Ralph Kostick, Paul Shea and Corey Clark; one son-in-law; Joseph Kowalczyk; five brothers and four sisters.

Mom and her family were so very appreciative of all the care givers at CoHo Assisted Living. Also, special thanks to all the great staff at Hope Hospice; what a blessing they are. My mother believed that each day was a gift and how we chose to unwrap it would determine our happiness.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be given in Anna’s name for a memorial to be designated at a later date.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.cuddiefh.com.  Thorp Funeral home assisted the family with arrangements.