Jolovette (Jolly) Marie Waukau, 76, of Menomonee Falls, passed away Jan. 27, 2020, at Elmbrook Hospital in Brookfield after a courageous two-week battle in the ICU with pneumonia. Born Aug. 4, 1943, she was the youngest child of Mitchell and Susie (Wilber) Waukau.
Jolly loved her early life on the Menominee Reservation when life was simpler, only leaving after graduating from Shawano High School when her mother insisted she spread her wings in Milwaukee. Jolly worked at Master Lock for more than 30 years, many in a supervisory role, but Neopit was always home.
Until her retirement in 2000, Jolly was very active in softball, racquetball, bowling and golf. She loved to travel, visiting all the Hawaiian islands, Florida and New York City and cruising to Alaska. Jolly was also an avid and loyal Packers fan.
Family was everything to Jolly. Over the past 19 years, she especially cherished the special bond with her great-niece, Cheyenne, whom she initially babysat every day until she was old enough to attend school and then supported her sports and educational activities. Their last shopping and lunch adventure was just days before Jolly was hospitalized.
Jolly cherished being part of the large Waukau family until her last day. For the past 14 years, Jolly had a special four-legged companion, Trixie Lou, who followed her in death the next day. Jolly and Trixie are back together, both pain-free forever.
Jolly is survived by her longtime life partner, Karen Czarny; brothers, Mervin and Tony Waukau, John and Ken Czarny; sisters-in-law JoAnne McSweeney, Diana and Sarah Waukau; Karen’s mom, Rose Czarny; very special nieces and nephew Cheyenne and Jodi Sowinski, Suzette Summers, Nanette Corn, LeEtta Bell, Duane (Buckle) and Mary (Pie) Waukau; in addition to numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Jolly was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Lloyd, Marvin, Hilary (Sparky), Roger, Wayne (Beechie), Orman (Pam) Waukau and Richard Czarny; and three sisters, Juanita Irving, Monica Bell and Yvonne Knowles; along with special nephew, Wendell Irving, and Karen’s dad Alfred Czarny, and many other extended family members, all of which held a special place in Jolly’s heart.
Funeral services will be held at St. Anthony’s Parish in Neopit on Saturday, Feb. 1, at 11 a.m. Visitation was at the Swedberg Funeral Home, 518 W. Fifth St., Shawano, from noon to 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 31, and will continue 9-10 a.m. Saturday before leaving for the church. A wake service was held at 7 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. A private burial in the church cemetery will be held in the spring.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Menominee Indian School District Scholarship Fund that assists youth today and in the future. If easier, checks payable to the fund can be sent directly to P.O. Box 1330, Keshena, WI 54135-1330, Attn: business office. On the memo line note “in memory of Jolly Waukau.”
Karen wants to thank all the family members who visited, comforted and prayed for Jolly during her last days. She’s now pain-free, back in the arms of her family whom she loved so much and will be laid to rest at home on the reservation that she cherished every day.
www.swedbergfuneralhome.com
Jolovette (Jolly) Marie Waukau
