Phyllis J. Habeck

Phyllis J. Habeck, 87, of Shawano, passed away Tuesday evening, Sept. 15, 2020, at the Cottages in Shawano.

Phyllis was born Jan. 16, 1933, in La Crosse to Earl and Marjorie (Hill) Hazelwood. She lived in La Crosse and Wausau, graduating from Wausau High School. Phyllis attended college at University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, which is where she met her husband, Roy Habeck. The couple was married on Aug. 29, 1953.

Shortly after marriage, 20-year-old Phyllis began teaching at Hancock Elementary School. She and Roy moved to Adams in 1957 until 1960, where Phyllis was an elementary school principal. The couple then moved to New Glarus in 1960, where she taught grade school and junior high school classes and special education students until 1968.

Phyllis and Roy moved on to Woodstock, Illinois, where Phyllis volunteered for the local hospital auxiliary and at the high school, spending much time on variable scheduling for students. She also earned her master’s degree at Northern Illinois University during that time.

Beginning in 1978, she moved to Shawano Lake, and Phyllis began counseling students at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College in Green Bay for 18 years. She then served as a volunteer board member for the next 17 years, holding various offices on the board. Phyllis founded two scholarships at NWTC as well as endowments to finance education majors at UW-Stevens Point and UW-Madison. She and Roy also sponsored a scholarship fund with Shawano Dollars for Scholars.

Phyllis worked part-time at the Shawano City-County Library, volunteered for the Navarino Nature Center, the Town of Wescott Cemetery Association, and St. James and St. Jakobi Lutheran churches in Shawano. Phyllis also volunteered at the Shawano County Humane Society, where she adopted her dogs, Tip and Lucky. When she retired from her education career, Phyllis became active with the Shawano County Republican Party. She and Roy received the 8th Congressional District Volunteers of the Year Award. Phyllis also served as a poll worker for over a decade.

Phyllis was a talented knitter, winning about a dozen Best of Show purple ribbons at the Shawano County Fair for her afghans. Many of her afghans were customized for wedding couples, and she even knitted a special afghan for a graduate of the U.S. Army Military Academy at West Point, New York. Phyllis also won ribbons at the fair for her photography and flowers.

She was a Green Bay Packers owner and fan and witnessed the Packers defeat the Patriots in Super Bowl XXXI. She also enjoyed following the UW-Stevens Point Pointers, the Wisconsin Badgers and the Milwaukee Brewers. Phyllis’s other hobbies were open water fishing, reading and jigsaw puzzles.

Survivors include her husband, Roy, of Shawano; her children, retired Judge James R. (Penny) Habeck, of Shawano, and Jean Habeck, a teacher in Denver, Colorado; her sister, Ann Lydon; and her twin brother, Philip Hazelwood; as well as many nieces, nephews, and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her brothers, Don and Bill; and Roy’s siblings, Agnes Smolarek, Milton Habeck, Harold Habeck, Ralph Habeck and Ruben Habeck.

Due to COVID-19 regulations, a celebration of Phyllis’ life will be held at a later date.

Mickelson Funeral and Cremation Service of Shawano is assisting the family with arrangements. Please share online condolences at www.mickelsonfs.com.