Romaine A. Wierzba, 88

Romaine A. Wierzba, 88, of Buena Vista, passed away Sunday, June 9, 2024, after a brief illness.

Romaine was born Nov. 10, 1935, in Stevens Point, to the late Albin and Florence (née Turzinski) Sankey. She married Julian Wierzba on Nov. 23, 1953, at St. Mary Mount Carmel Church in Fancher. They were married for nearly 64 years until Julian died in 2017.

Romaine dedicated much of her life to raising her family and farming. She was known for her large garden, especially her Sweet Spanish onions, which she sold as a cash crop. Each year, she planted a few acres of cucumbers to help her children earn money for school clothes and other items, such as a snowmobile, a three-wheeler, and a riding lawn mower.

Her hobbies included gardening, yard work, sewing, and growing flowers. Romaine also worked for Portage County on several Censuses, served as a crew leader for a farm Census, and worked at Del Monte, transporting bean samples and mail. She later worked in the bakery and deli at Lila’s grocery store in Plover, and in 1980, she began working at the Wisconsin Veterans Home in King. She served as a food service worker/cook, food service supervisor, and inventory clerk until her retirement in 1996. Romaine also volunteered at many church functions and for the Bloodmobile.

Romaine is survived by her children, Marcie (Tim) Pagel of Neenah, Julie (Randy) Riebe of Appleton, Randy (Jolynn) Wierzba of Almond, and Gary (Angela) Wierzba of Stevens Point; 10 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren, and one great-grandchild expected in October. She is also survived by her sister, Rita (Daniel) Betker; two sisters-in-law, Joan Yenter and Rita Cline; one brother-in-law, Jerry (Arlene) Wierzba; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, daughters Cindy (Roger) Omernik and Jennie Peterson; sister Rose (Maynard) Tetzloff; brothers Robert (Patricia) and Richard (Esther) Sankey; grandson Timothy L. Pagel; and granddaughter Tammy Omernik.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, June 13, 2024, at St. Maximilian Kolbe Catholic Church, 8611 State Highway 54, Almond, with the Rev. Peter Manickam and Deacon Jim Trzinski officiating. Burial will follow in St. Patrick’s Cemetery. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. until the time of service at the church.

Pisarski Community Funeral Home of Plover is honored to be serving the family. For online condolences, please visit www.pisarskifuneralhome.com.

The family extends their gratitude to the staff at Marshfield Medical Center-Weston for their excellent care.