Jodie Birr

Jodie (Tulogeski) Birr, 68, of Suring, passed away on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024, after a long and courageous battle with end stage emphysema and COPD at Aurora BayCare Medical Center, with her family by her side.

Jodie was born on Sept. 17, 1956, to the late Rudolph Tulogeski and Karen Janke. She was raised by Lawrence and Karen (Janke) Smoot, whom she absolutely adored. She graduated from Suring High School with the class of 1975.

Shortly after, she jumped into the workforce and had various jobs over the years. Jodie found her calling as a waitress. She enjoyed her time working at Laverne and Gail’s and Country Roads Diner. She had a quick wit and a sense of humor that knew no bounds. She enjoyed joking with and pranking her fellow co-workers and patrons.

In her personal life, she enjoyed spending time with her family, especially her children and grandchildren. Jodie was one of the most kindhearted individuals you could ever hope to meet. She was the type to give you the shirt off her back or her last dollar if she thought you needed it more than she.

When she wasn’t spending time with family, she enjoyed singing karaoke and drinking coffee at Laverne and Gail’s. She was a social butterfly and had a way to make the entire room laugh at her antics. If you were lucky enough to have her in your life, you were truly blessed.

Jodie is survived by her children, Maria (Jay) Gilmore-Bullock, Tabatha (Josh) Valley, Jesse (Kara) Tulogeski and Courtney (Ron) Thomson; siblings, Richard (Tammy) Tulogeski, Robin (Gene) Peterson, Larry (Arthur) Smoot, Penny Fike and Ben Tulogeski; six grandchildren, Gracie, Jerimiah (Micki), Tucker, James, Jacob (Jazzi) and Hunter; two great-grandchildren, Emersyn and Brinley.

She was preceded in death by her parents; grandson, Angelo; grandparents, Dorothy and Leonard Deja, Edgar and Dolly Smoot; uncles, Pat Klink, Rodney Smoot Robert Smoot; aunt, Darlene Peterson; sister, Barbara Tulogeski; dear friends, Pinky and Grandma Millie; and her favorite four-legged daughter, Puppers.

Visitation will be held at Gruetzmacher Funeral Home on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024, from 10 a.m. until the memorial service at noon. After the service, there will be a meal and socializing at Our Redeemer’s Lutheran Church, 11005 County Road M, Suring, WI 54174. Jodie will be interred near her parents in Hickory Cemetery.

Gruetzmacher Funeral Home is assisting the family. Online condolences can be expressed at www.gruetzmacherfuneralhome.com.

Jodie fought a tenacious battle, and we are so grateful for the time we were given with her. She defied the odds time and time again. Let her fighting spirit and determination be a beacon of hope to all who struggle in life; she taught us that there is always hope.

We’d like to give a special thanks to our sister Courtney and her husband Ronnie. Courtney dedicated the last 10 years caring for mom, and then both she and Ronnie for the last two years to give Jodie 24/7 in-home care, so she did not have to go it alone in a facility. Ronnie made sure Jodie got to every appointment and helped keep her motivated. He made sure Courtney never missed a chance to visit Jodie in the hospital. These are selfless acts that show how much love they held for our mom, Jodie, and needs to be acknowledged. Jodie would also like us to mention that no matter what Courtney says, she is still not funny, and we all readily agree.

Also thanks to our brother, Jesse, for trying his very best to make tough decisions for mom and the endless hours spent at hospitals making sure all was well.

Further thanks to Gail and Shannon at Laverne and Gail’s Diner for always being great friends, Jessica and Carley for their friendship and compassion, and countless others we failed to mention, but appreciate.

Jodie’s medical team at Aurora BayCare Medical Center and its staff were wonderful and dedicated caregivers. We would especially like to thank Dr. Mark Riedy, NP Kerry Schey, Dr. Raul Mendoza, NP Jesse Thompson, respiratory therapist Tate, nurse Courtney and last but not least her favorite nurses, Candice and Kim. Candice, who on top of providing the best care for Jodie, also made sure her family was taken care of. Kim shared Jodie’s sense of humor and stayed in contact long after she was out of the hospital. Other special people who helped care for Jodie and deserve mention are Gillett Area Ambulance Service, family physician Erin Bancroft who provided top-tier care, and Chaplin Brad, who would watch “The Price is Right” with her and share conversation while she was hospitalized.

Mom, we all love you to the moon and back, and will miss you always. Thank you for absolutely everything you’ve done for us. We will carry it with us always.

Revelation 21:4: “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”