Mary E. Sobolik

Mary Sobolik (nee Burger) passed into eternal life on November 23, 2018, after living a life filled with love and adventure. Mary joins her parents, Henry and Eleanor Burger, and her brother Jerry in heaven. They have missed her and embraced her with joyous hugs. She is survived by her husband of 58 years, Russ Sobolik; her children, Mark (Patty) Sobolik, Sharon (Steve) Zimmer, Claire Sobolik, Joanne Sobolik, and Michael (Julie); her siblings Donna, Allen, and Tom; her grandchildren, Kathryn, Anne (Jason), Carl, Kimberly, Jacob, Kristin; great grandchildren Kaylie Robin and Alexandria Mae; nieces and nephews; and many, many friends. Mary grew up in St. Francis and Bay View. The middle child of five children, she loved to share her memories of growing up. She began playing piano when she was five, and she enjoyed playing piano all her life (she was an amazing sight reader). She often shared stories of going to Sacred Heart and St. Mary’s Academy, flirting with the many boys who hung around at her family’s house, and learning how to be a good person from her parents. When Mary was seventeen, she met Russell, who worked at the A&P grocery store with Mary’s mom. Although her mom told her not to hang out with that wild boy, Mary started to date Russell. They married on November 5, 1960, when they were 20 years old, and had five children together in the next eight years. During this time, they purchased their home in South Milwaukee. Everyone who has known them knows their house and their phone number, which has not changed for over 50 years. Mary was the best mom anyone could ask for. She was involved in St. Adalbert’s, where her children went to grade school. She was a volunteer physical education teacher (stop laughing, Russ), a scout leader, a room mother, and a hot dog lunch server. She loved her children endlessly. Through the happiest of times and the most frightening, dark times, her children depended on her advice, her support, and her love. When Mary was a young mother of five children, she made every day special. She made every gift meaningful. She made every holiday memorable. Mary loved to travel. She wanted to go everywhere and experience adventure. She and Russ took their first trip together to Niagara Falls for their honeymoon. They traveled to Michigan with their children to visit family They took their children on week-long vacations to Quiet Springs Resort, renting a cottage on Lake Gillett. They bought a camper, then an RV, and went on road trips to the western parts of the country. They vacationed in Mexico and the Caribbean with friends. They visited family on the east coast and the west coast of the country, and they crashed their son Michael’s elopement in Hawai’i. Eight years ago, Mary went on a special trip with her husband, spending two weeks in Alaska for their second honeymoon. She enjoyed the train trip for week one, and during week two’s cruise, Mary was especially surprised when Russ arranged for a marriage vow renewal with the cruise ship’s captain. How romantic! When an opportunity arose to purchase land in Langlade county, Mary was the driving force to build a castle in the woods. Mary and Russell, along with their family and friends, enjoyed spending time in their wooded get-away. Mary made everyone welcome, went on shopping adventures, and entertained all who entered her special haven. To know Mary best is to know how much she showed her love of her family during the holidays, especially at Christmas. Her family gathered at her South Milwaukee home every year on Christmas Eve, enjoying a meal together and sharing Christmas wafers. These were special times for everyone, and they will be when her family both misses her dearly and feels closest to her. Those who knew Mary throughout her life knew how special she was; we valued her kindness, sense of humor, and generosity. Mary made friends wherever she went. She had a special group of friends from her high school, St. Mary’s Academy, with whom she spent many lunches and dinners. She was active in Red Hat Society groups, enjoying old friends and making new ones. Mary also enjoyed the company of the friends she made in the 1400 fishing and hunting club (she didn’t hunt, but she used to fish with her husband on Lake Gillett! Mary was diagnosed with kidney disease over 20 years ago. After being on dialysis for years, she received a kidney transplant in 2006. These past twelve years were especially dear to Mary. She felt great appreciation for the gift of life she had received, and all who knew and loved her understood how wonderful the miracle her life had become. There came a time when Mary’s body was no longer able to fight the infection in her lungs, and she decided to not have dialysis or machines breathe for her. She courageously chose to decline further treatments and to go to heaven. While Mary will be missed by her friends and family, the love she gave us lives on in our hearts. The family asks for donations to the National Kidney Association in lieu of flowers. If you haven’t already, become an organ donor to give the gift of life to someone else.