Lucille L. (Micolichek) Schlies

Lucille L. Schlies, 68, Denmark, died on Friday, November 18, 2011, at home with her family by her side following a dignifed and determined battle with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease). Born in Green Bay, Wisconsin on April 26, 1943, to Antone and Marie (Falkowski) Micolichek, she selflessly devoted her life to being a wife to Russell, mother to David, Janet, Susan and Donnie, a grandmother, daughter, sister and friend. Growing up on a family farm, her parents instilled in Lucille an unbeatable work ethic, a great appreciation for a rural way of life, and the idea that in life, you never stop learning. Lucille was a person of tremendous faith and truly believed that with God, all things are possible. She always thought of and put the needs of others first, yet never thought she had done enough or that her work was done. She attended St. Joseph’s Academy in Green Bay---somewhat of a rarity for a farm girl from Pine Grove---and was a proud graduate of the Class of 1961. She worked at Pauly Cheese for a short time (an assembly line worker she was not!), followed by The Green Bay Eye Clinic. She often talked about her days as part of the growing group of women who worked outside of the home in the early 1960s, many of whom were considered pioneers of their time. She married Russell J. Schlies at St. Cyril and Methodius Church in Eaton on May 29, 1965 and together, they carried on their families’ farming legacies by buying their own dairy farm. In 2008, they were humbled and honored to host Brown County Breakfast on the Farm with their two sons---something Mom never imagined they would be asked to do. While raising four children, Lucille helped expand and grow the farm and a small trucking business, Schlies Milk Transfer. As one of the area’s first female milk haulers, she turned many heads when she jumped into the milk truck for the first time in 1981 and started to haul milk. Little did she know she was also doing much more, including setting a wonderful example for her daughters and granddaughters, that a woman can doing anything she sets her mind to. She retired 22 years later to enjoy her new adventure as “Grammy” after her first grandson was born. A talented cook, baker and cake decorater, many had a chance to enjoy Lucille’s wedding cakes, holiday cookies, birthday cakes, and homemade Polish sausage through the years. Her chocolate chip cookies, spaghetti sauce, and dill pickles were also family favorites. Lucille enjoyed some of life’s simplest pleasures, including a fresh dew sparkling in the early morning sunlight; a heavy snowfall that clung to the trees, an unexpected rainbow after a spring shower, the pure and joyful hug of a grandchild and any dessert featuring chocolate. She savored the smell of the earth that surrounded her when she picked mushrooms, was in her garden, or when crops were planted and harvested. Lucille enjoyed growing beautiful vegetable and flower gardens each year, and took it to a competitive level by challenging her mother-in-law and daughter-in-law to growing contests. She didn’t always win, but she certainly enjoyed the friendly rivalry along the way. She and Russell enjoyed traveling with their friends, including trips to California, Las Vegas, several states “Out West,” Hawaii, Mexico, Florida, Alaska, and Poland. In 2006 she took her dream vacation to Europe and visited Germany, Austria, Czechoslovackia and Switzerland. She loved the trip so much, that she often said she would pack her bags and leave tomorrow to do it all over again! Lucille hoped to be an active community volunteer during her retirement, but was limited due to her illness. Through the years she was involved in the All Saints School Board and the Altar Society. Lucille is survived by her husband of 46 years, Russell, Denmark; and her four children: David (Julie Schultz), Denmark; Janet (Rich) Bonkowski, Green Bay; Susan (Keith) Obermiller, Green Bay; and Donnie (Wendy) Schlies, Denmark; by 10 grandchildren, Jeremy Schlies; Joe, Mitchell, Emily and Max Bonkowski; Miranda and Dominic Obermiller; and Jacob, Jeffery and Ryan Schlies. She is further survived by two brothers and a sister: Donald (Sandra) Micolichek, Green Bay; Joseph Micolichek and special friend, Maggie Meyer, Green Bay; and LaVerne Micolichek, Roselle, Ill. Additionally, she is survived by two sisters-in-law, Pat (Clarence) Vanness, Kewaunee; and Mary Anne (Clayton) Meyer, Kewaunee, and numerous nieces, nephews, and neighbors. She was preceeded in death by her parents, her mother- and fathers-in-law, Emily and Jacob Schlies and Joseph Selner, and godson, Todd Micolchek. Family and friends may call Tuesday, November 22, 2011, from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Knutson-Cotter Funeral Home, 536 Cty R, Denmark, where there will be a Parish Prayer Service at 7:30 p.m. Visitation will continue on Wednesday at the funeral home from 9 a.m. until the procession leaves for All Saints Catholic Church, Denmark. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. with Fr. William O’Brien and Fr. Ron Colombo concelebrating. Interment will follow in All Saints Cemetery. Online condolences may be expressed at www.cotterfuneralhomme.com. A special thank you to the staff of Unity Hospice, including Melodie, Deb, Kristin, and all of the other CNAs for your wonderful compassion and dignified care over the years and to Father Ron Colombo, Father Bill O’Brien, and Sister Gerri Krautkramer for your spiritual guidance. Many journeyed with Mom during her battle with ALS, lifting her up on days when she needed it most. Thank you for laughing and crying with her and treating her with the dignity she so deserved. We are forever grateful to her caregivers, Kellie and Judy, Dr. David Kaufman and his staff, Dr. Timmons, Karen in the Speech Therapy Dept. at Aurora, Carolyne Younk and members of the MDA/ALS Support Group, her friends JoAnn, Claire, Karen, Joan, Marilyn, Jeanette, Don and Cindy Shimon, many neighbors and friends for their cards, visits and prayers and to her daughters-in-law Julie and Wendy. We are most grateful to Dad for his great care of Mom during her difficult journey, which allowed her to be a part of family events for as long as physically possible and giving her grandchildren the greatest gift of all: Memories of Grammy that will last a lifetime.