Marlene L. Tomsevics

Marlene L. Tomsevics

Born to Eternal Life March 31, 2024 at the age of 87. Beloved wife of the late Kristaps “Chris” Tomsevics. Loving mother of Michael Tomsevics and Linda Tomsevics. Sister of Bob (the late Janice) Adams of Texas. Further survived by Marlene Redmerski, her best friend since grade school and proud that “they never had a fight”, Peter Henschel who treated her like a loving Mother-in-law and Natalie & Kandi, her 2 special caregiver helpers. Also survived by many nieces, nephews, great neighbors and church family.

Marlene was born in Milwaukee, WI on September 27, 1936. She attended Dover Street Grade School just down the street from her family home on Williams Street and graduated from Bay View High School in 1955. She went to work for Wisconsin Electric Power Company and met Chris on a blind date shortly later and were married in 1957.

They bought a duplex in West Allis on 96th & Greenfield where they spent their first few years raising their small children with a large yard and amazing fruit trees to climb and nibble at their heart’s content. While the kids were still very young, they found a new development in Greenfield and picked a nice lot to build their perfect family home. They were forward thinking and added many extras to design it exactly as they wanted – like adding another course of brick to the basement (they were proud to only pay $30 extra for) to give plenty of head room knowing they wanted to turn it into a workshop for Dad, laundry for Mom and game room for the kids to enjoy.

Marlene continued working full time while the kids were in grade school. When they got old enough to come home independently with their key, Mom always had cookies or a snack waiting for them to eat & get their homework done before she got home.

Above all, Marlene loved being a mother and took motherhood to a whole other level! She decided she needed to be home more and went to work third shift at W.A. Krueger Company two nights each week. Mike & Linda have many fond memories of being taken down to Grandma’s house to keep the house quiet or play at friend’s houses so Mom could sleep the next day. When Linda joined Girl Scouts, so did Mom as a troop leader for the troop at Elm Dale Grade School in Greenfield.

When the kids got a little older, they added an above ground pool so all the neighborhood kids would come play in the pool during the Summer. They purchased a ping pong table and pool table for the basement game room for inclement weather. Marlene was an amazing cook. Neighborhood kids always loved “Mrs T” cooking and snacks while playing at our home.

After watching the kids in the pool, Mom (& Dad) encouraged them to join the Greenfield Swin Club, an age-group competition swim club. Marlene always helped with anything the swim club needed, and soon became the head of the kitchen for the annual swim meet hosted by the Greenfield Otters in the Greenfield High School.

Marlene cared for anyone & everyone who needed a helping hand; it was simply the way of life. She (& Chris) cared for each of their Mother’s in the family’s Greenfield home during their last years of life, giving them immeasurable quality of life.

Marlene’s church family at St Luke’s Evangelical Lutheran Church was extra special to her. Again, both her & Dad always helped at Church. Dad was an usher and Mom set up communion 1-2 months each year and whenever someone couldn’t help. They made their permanent home in the 5th pew near the front by the communion set-up room. She watched closely as they distributed communion. If they started to run low, even if she didn’t set it up, she’d whisk away to replenish the supplies and pop her head to get Pastor’s attention.

Marlene would always help wherever the church needed. She would help each year to fold Palm leaves into crosses for Palm Sunday and when they needed someone to coordinate the day, she stepped up to the plate for approximately 20 years. She also coordinated the printed pages of the monthly newsletter and process for bulk mailing.

Marlene & Chris went to church weekly and went for breakfast afterwards at Zebb’s Family Restaurant, which was the highlight of their week.

Sadly, Mom acquired a memory-related disease, which was the only thing she feared in life and became too embarrassed to continue going to church as she forgot who people were. With the help of her children and some special friends, Kandi, Natalie & Peter, she was able to stay in her Greenfield home until she went to her Heavenly home. She put up a very valiant fight but lost her battle on Easter Sunday evening. What a glorious day to join Chris, her only love of almost 63 years in heaven, to be restored to wholeness and the perfect Mom she was!

Visitation at ST. LUKE’S EV. LUTHERAN CHURCH (6705 Northway, Greendale, WI) Monday April 22, 2024 from 10:30 – 11:45 AM with a celebration of life service at 12 Noon.

TO VIEW THE LIVESTREAM of the service please click on the link below and then click the WORSHIP tab to watch the service.

Slchurch.org