Sharon Mary Patoka, 63

Sharon Mary Patoka, 63 of Plover, passed away unexpectedly on Monday, August 29, 2022.

Sharon was born in Milwaukee on March 23, 1959. She was the daughter of the late Alois (Lloyde) and Gertrude (Gertie) (Jankowski) Iwanski. She attended local schools and graduated from SPASH in 1977.

Sharon met the love of her life, her high school sweetheart, in history class their junior year in 1976, Roger D. Patoka. They were married on February 16, 1980, at the Newman University Parish at the Sisters of St. Joseph Motherhouse Convent in Stevens Point. They welcomed two sons Kyle and Kolin, whom together they raised in Plover.

Sharon held various public service positions for Portage County and the City of Stevens Point at the County/City Building in Stevens Point. She recently retired on September 24, 2021, after over 40 years of employment.

Sharon was extremely gifted in the arts. She enjoyed crafting in her free time. From ceramic painting, crafting for the seasons, stamping, and gardening. Hummingbird and cardinal watching were dear to her as well. She also had a love for sewing, making all sorts of clothing ranging from matching cabbage patch doll pajamas for nieces and nephews to miniature bridal attire for family members’ weddings.

Sharon was an avid baseball and hockey fan and was very involved in watching her nephew Joe play hockey on tv. The most recent joys in her life were her young grandchildren whom she adored, she lit up anytime she spoke of them and loved to spend time with them.

She took pride in all of her many nieces and nephews. She never missed an opportunity to send a thoughtful card or attend special events. Sharon will be dearly missed by her close friends; Frank and Nancy Suchon, Lynette Patoka, Kathy Genovese, Lisa Jakusz, Sarah Henrichs, and Shirley Simmonis. Her sister Sandy devoted countless hours to companionship and support.

Survivors include her two sons; Kyle (Lori) Patoka of Green Bay and Kolin (Chelsea) Patoka of Amherst; three grandchildren; Cruz, Maren, and Luna; sister Sandy (Iwanski) Filtz of Plover and in-laws; Sandra (Michael) Pavelski, Brian Patoka, Lori (Tim) Buchkowski, Carol (William) Rudiger, Kim (Robert) Lawrence, Jodi (William) Rentfrow; and godchildren; Chris Pliska, Sheri (Pavelski) Zubella, April Filtz, Curtis Patoka, and Matthew Lawrence.

She was preceded in death by her parents Alois (Lloyde) and Gertrude (Jankowski) Iwanski, her husband Roger Patoka, her father and mother-in-law Maynard and Ramona (Wroblewski) Patoka.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, September 2, 2022, at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Stevens Point. Burial will follow in the Guardian Angel Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m. Thursday at the Pisarski Funeral Home of Stevens Point, and from 9 a.m. Friday morning at the Family Parish Center of Holy Spirit Church until the time for mass. There will be a parish rosary at 7 p.m. Thursday evening to conclude the services.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial in Sharon’s name will be established at a later date.