Arla J. Oelke, 79, Mosinee, died Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018, at Ascension St. Clare’s Hospital, Weston.
She was born Jan. 5, 1939, in Deerbrook, the daughter of the late Gordon and Marie (Hoecherl) Marshall.
While attending beauty college in Wausau, she met and married the love of her life, David Edward Oelke I, on Aug. 1, 1959. He preceded her in death on Nov. 20, 2011.
Arla owned and operated Arla’s Beauty Salon and Dave’s Cafe in Mosinee. In her later years, she worked at Sam’s Club. You would always find her pushing her cart and helping whomever she could. She was awarded Employer of the Month in October 2017 and was so proud of that accomplishment at the age of 78.
Arla was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and great-great-grandmother and aunt to many nieces and nephews and will be sadly missed by all who knew her. She always had that gentle smile on her face.
Arla was a kind and gentle soul and fought to the end of her life. She prided herself in her hard work and was very proud of her children, David (Michelle) Oelke II, Debra (Marvin) Liedtke, Diana (Paul) Liedtke and DeLinda (Larry) Borth. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Tracy (David) Harris, Jacqueline (Jason) Quade, Paula (Adam Douglas) Liedtke, Jacob (Maddie) Liedtke, Tabetha Borth, David (Courtney Krzanowski) Oelke III, Elizabeth (Adam Zietlow) Oelke, Patty (Jon) Bulgrin, Benjamin (Shelby Payne) Tryba, and Clayton, Ben and Adam Schillinger; her great-grandchildren, Dominique, Megan, Kayla, Antwann, William, Lillian, Brylee, Jessica, Jasper and Elouise; her great-great-grandchildren, Ella and Sophie; her brothers, Harold (Kathy) Marshall, Deerbrook, James (Lorraine) Marshall, Gleason, and Gordon Marshall Jr., Antigo; her sisters, Leila Pilhofer, Gleason, and Linda (John) Ingram, Antigo; and a sister-in-law, Delores Nolta. She was preceded in death by her grandchildren and a great-grandson, who she finally gets to hold and play with, Rocky Starr, Ash Le, Mia August Angel Liedtke, and Michael Elmer Allen, and a brother, George Marshall, and two sisters, Shirley Wilde and Joanne Teal.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday, Nov. 5, 2018, at St. John Lutheran Church, Dancy. The Rev. Timothy Roser will officiate. Burial will be in Sacred Ground Cemetery, town of Bergen. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. Monday until time of services at the church. Beste Funeral Home, Mosinee, assisted the family with arrangements. Online condolences can be made at www.bestefh.com