Patricia Ann Stroik, “Granny,” 90

Patricia Ann Stroik, “Granny,” née Hintz, age 90, of Galloway, died peacefully on Jan. 4, 2025, surrounded by family at Marshfield Medical Center in Weston.

Patricia was born Jan. 8, 1934, in the Town of Franzen to John and Bernice (née Schultz) Hintz. She grew up on a farm between Shantytown and Bevent, attending the one-room Polk School through eighth grade.

At age 15, she left school to help raise her eight younger siblings after her mother was admitted to River Pines Sanatorium in Whiting for tuberculosis treatment.

On Sept. 21, 1953, she married Raymond Stroik at St. Ladislaus Catholic Church in Bevent. They were married for 58 years until Raymond’s death on Jan. 22, 2012. Together, they raised 12 children.

Patricia began driving a school bus in 1972 after her husband became disabled, a role she held for 38 years. She was a longtime catechist and eucharistic minister at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Galloway, where she also helped organize the Czarnina Dinner for nearly 50 years. She was a co-founder of Galloway Days in 1969, a community event that continues to celebrate the Galloway area.

She is survived by 11 children: Paul (Kari), Mike (Julie), Joe (Cindy), Charmayne Paap (Ron), Pam Smith (Mark), Lorraine Skibba (Conrad), John, Monica Abt (Todd), Frank (Shelly), Sam (Kristi), and Sally Barlament (Tom); 26 grandchildren; and 25 great-grandchildren, with another due in February.

She is further survived by her siblings: Sylvester Hintz (Patricia), Delphine Wrycza, Daniel Hintz (Shirley), and Helen Mullozzi (née Hintz) (Bill).

In addition to her husband and parents, Patricia was preceded in death by her daughter Mary Ann in infancy; siblings Phyllis in infancy, Bernice (née Hintz), Susie (née Hintz), Lucille (née Hintz), Stanley (née Hintz), Jack (née Hintz), and John (née Hintz).

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 11, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Galloway, with the Rev. Francis X. Dias officiating. Burial will follow at a later date in the parish cemetery.

Visitation is scheduled from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Friday at the church, with a Rosary at 6:30 p.m. Visitation will resume at 9 a.m. Saturday until the start of the Mass.

Schmidt & Schulta Funeral Home, Wittenberg, is assisting the family. Memories and messages of support may be shared at schmidtschulta.com.