Obituary of Wilma Reis

Wilma J. (“Willie”) Reis, age 80, of Rudolph, passed away on Saturday, November 25, 2017, at her home, surrounded by her loving family.

The funeral mass will be at 11:00 A.M. on Thursday, November 30, 2017 at St. Philip the Apostle Catholic Church in Rudolph. Father David Bruener will officiate. Burial will take place at All Souls Cemetery. Visitation for family and friends will be held on Wednesday, November 29, 2017, from 4:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. at Herman-Taylor Funeral Home and Thursday, November 30, 2017 from 10:00 A.M. until the time of services at the church. Online condolences may be expressed at www.taylorfuneralhome.net.

Willie was born January 22, 1937 in Loyal, Wisconsin to Arthur and Maybelle (Starks) Freeman. Her family moved to Stevens Point where Willie graduated from PJ Jacobs High School. She worked as a telephone operator before marrying George W. Reis, Jr. on June 8, 1957 in Stevens Point. They moved to “the farm” in Rudolph in 1962 and celebrated 50 years of marriage before George died in December 2007. In addition to creating a warm, supportive, fun-loving home, she worked as bookkeeper for the businesses she and her husband owned including Reis Lumber Company in Junction City and Hawkins Lake Cranberry Corporation in Warrens.

Willie relished time with her family and friends and volunteering for numerous parish and community events. She was a co-founder of the Rudolph Rustlers Marching Band and a volunteer for many years in the library at St. Philip’s School. She especially enjoyed planning Reading is Fundamental (RIF) programs for the children. She loved sewing for her children and grandchildren and creating remarkable costumes for Halloween and other events, from Oscar the Grouch to the crows Heckel and Jekyll to aliens from space. She enjoyed crossword and jigsaw puzzles and playing cards (sets and runs), farkle, and dominos with visiting family and friends. She had a special fondness for Casa Hogar Juan Pablo II, a home for orphaned and abandoned children in Peru founded by the priest that inspired her conversion to Catholicism, Father Joe Walijewski. She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary for over 55 years. Willie will be remembered and deeply missed for her generosity, sense of humor, courage, perseverance, and openness to many different types of people.

Willie is survived by her five daughters, Lois (Stephen) Slattery, Gail (Joel) Mackie, Ruth (Lyle) Holtz, Janis Ribbens, and Karen (Kevin) Doers; her son Steven (Pam) Reis; her grandchildren, Travis (Joanna) Slattery, Kimberly Slattery, Lisa Slattery, Patrick Mackie, Christopher (Angie) Mackie, Amanda (Jeff) Lenzner, Samantha (Jake McCormick) Holtz, Kyle (Katie Braun) Holtz, Danielle Holtz, Andrew Reis, Elizabeth Reis, and Michael Burow; eight great-grandchildren; sister, Shirley Horn; sister-in-law Marilynn Amann; and many nieces and nephews.

Willie was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, son-in-law Timothy Ribbens, great-granddaughter McKenna Mackie, sister Joan Strong, and brother Robert Freeman.

Memorials may be designated to Casa Hogar Juan Pablo II, PO Box 4004, LaCrosse, WI 54602.

The family would like to thank Heartland Home Hospice for its kind and caring assistance, all of the caregivers in recent years whose support enabled Willie to remain living in her home, and Father David Bruener for his caring words of comfort to Willie.