Genevieve Maryann "Gene" Sharkey (Onopa)

Genevieve (Gene) M. Sharkey, 92, Mosinee, died Saturday December 31, 2022 at her home under hospice care surrounded by her three children.

Gene was born July 27, 1930 to the late Frank and Veronica (Zimnoch) Onopa. She married Raymond Sharkey, Jr. on May 29, 1954 at St. John the Baptist Church in Peplin. He preceded her in death on July 15, 2003.

Gene attended school through 8th grade in the Maple Ridge area of Kronenwetter. In the 1980’s she needed her G.E.D. to apply for a job. She was very proud that she passed the G.E.D. test on her first try without any additional classes. Gene worked at different jobs in Wausau and Chicago during her youth and at various retail clerk jobs at Mirman’s Furniture, Winkelman’s, and Robert Hall stores when her children were in school to help pay for their college educations. After she retired, she was very involved at St. Paul Catholic Church in Mosinee as a lector during daily mass and on the weekends, as a lay Eucharistic Minister at the church and as a volunteer to distribute communion at Aspirus Hospital and various assisted care facilities and homes in the Mosinee area. She was also a member of St. Monica’s Society at St. Paul Church.

Gene enjoyed various craft projects, telling detailed stories about her family history and writing about it, dancing polkas every Sunday with all of her dancing friends at halls and church picnics, taking care of her yard and garden, and babysitting, cooking for, and spending time with her grandchildren and her entire family. She loved to travel and visited many states, including Alaska and Hawaii, as well as Mexico, U.S Virgin Islands, Ireland, and most of the European Countries during several cruises there. She also loved casinos and enjoyed her 20 trips to Las Vegas. She was looking forward to her 21st trip there in March with family members.

Gene is survived by her three children: Luanne (Joe) Trudell, Mosinee, Wayne (Susan) Sharkey, Ripon, WI and Highlands Ranch, CO, and Keith (Janice) Sharkey, Crystal River, FL; five grandchildren: Nicole (Andrew) Jumbeck, Matt (Megan) Sharkey, Megan (Will) Morrison, Leah (Matt) Garbelman, and Joey (Gina) Trudell; and three great-grandchildren: Lucas and Rosalie Jumbeck and Max Sharkey; and many nieces and nephews.

Gene was preceded in death by all of her siblings: her sisters Isabelle Gruchalski, Mary Wolak, Antoinette Sowinski, Jenny Michalski, Frances Onopa, Leona Noga, Anne Chudyba, and Josephine Onopa; and brothers Konstanty, Frank, Stanley, Joseph, Edward and Alexander Onopa. She was also preceded in death by all of her sisters in law and brothers In law as well as many nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, January 5, 2023, at St. Paul Catholic Church, Mosinee. The Reverends Aaron Becker and Donald Przybylski will officiate. Burial will be at St. Paul Cemetery, Mosinee. Visitation will be from 9 am until the time of the services on Thursday, all at the church. Beste Funeral Home, Mosinee is assisting the family with the arrangements. Online condolences can be directed to the family at www.bestefh.com.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to St. Paul Catholic Church or a charity of your choice.