Anne Talaska

Anne Marie Talaska passed away at the age of 89 on October 11, 2024. Anne is survived by her husband of 64 years, Thomas, and her three children: Gregory, Michael and Mark.

Anne was born in Abbotsford on August 30,1935, the youngest of nine children born to Jacob and Anna. Like her siblings before her, Anne’s mother gave birth to Anne at home. Anne’s father died in a logging accident early in her childhood. Growing up with six brothers Anne would tell her sons, “Most kids had one father to tell them what to. I had six.” Her sons recently learned how Anne and her mother would wait up at night for those brothers to return home. She told her sons she could tell which one was home by the sound of their feet on the floor. An early example of her love of family.

Growing up in a small town during very difficult economic times but with a loving family Anne’s mother, siblings and Catholic faith shaped her values and character. She always put family first. Even during her numerous hospital stays she would be more concerned about how her family was doing at home than her own condition.

Anne often spent summers during her childhood in Milwaukee, staying with a sister. She would visit a neighborhood playground where her future husband also played. She said Thomas told her that at age 12, when he saw her on the playground, he knew she was the girl he would marry.

Anne graduated from Abbotsford High School. Last year she attended her 70-year high school reunion. She stayed in Abbotsford for a time and then moved to Milwaukee, living with a sister. She worked on the switchboard at Milwaukee City Hall and later was hired by Heil where she worked as a secretary. Her children enjoyed hearing stories about her time at both jobs.

Thomas and Anne’s paths continued to cross, and they started dating. In 1960 they were married and over the years had three boys. She would sometimes say, “I’m outnumbered four to one. But I’m used to it. I grew up with six brothers.”

Anne was an avid vegetable gardener. During her years home with her children, she canned dozens of quarts of pickles each summer and froze countless containers of beans, carrots, corn and other vegetables. Some of her children’s favorite memories are of helping pick and wash those vegetables. Anne gave away many of those quarts of pickles to nephews and nieces who would often eat an entire quart in one sitting.

Once her children (“my boys” as she called them) were older, Anne worked as a teacher’s aide at the same grade school her children had attended. She later accepted a promotion working for years as the secretary at Maple Grove grade school in Greenfield. In those days there was usually not a nurse at the school, so she often filled in for that role too. She loved children and taking care of others. She loved organizing things. This job brought her a great deal of enjoyment.

Anne feared flying and the water, having never learned to swim. Yet when her oldest son moved to California, she got on a plane to visit him. Thomas dreamed of visiting Alaska. So, she got on a plane with her family to go to Alaska and take an inland passage cruise. Anne did not like camping. Yet she went on every camping trip the family ever took. Family always came first for her. These have become some of the most cherished memories she left her family.

One of Anne’s favorite interests was crossword puzzles and watching Wheel of Fortune. Even at 89 she was still solving puzzles. She loved to solve problems, to fix things. She enjoyed making small repairs around the house using whatever she could find. Her sons would offer to fix it, but she liked finding a way to do it herself. She would say, “Where there’s a will, there’s a way.”

Anne loved to bowl. Over her long life she always seemed to belong to a bowling league. A sad day in her life was when her doctor told her she’d have to give up bowling.

She had other hobbies too. Arts and crafts was one of them. She greatly enjoyed creating and displaying seasonal decorations. Anne and her friends would meet at each other’s homes to work on craft projects. Putting up those creations to decorate the home for the changing seasons and holidays became a family ritual.

Sewing was something she enjoyed too. Creating outfits for herself, mending clothes and going to the fabric store to see what was on sale.

Another of Anne’s favorite activities was ‘Card Club’. It was a rotating game with a niece, a sister-in-law and friends. Sometimes the ‘big winner’ would come home with one dollar. Later in life the card games changed to dominos with the same high stakes. She also played dominoes with a group of coworkers and friends. It was not about the game; it was about the people. She treasured spending time with family and friends.

Anne loved to bake for others and was always searching for new recipes to try. When the internet became available in the 1990’s she found an endless supply of new recipes.

Anne was the secretary and treasurer for the Greenfield School District retirees' group. She kept a database of members and a calling tree for when someone passed away. For decades she attended the retirees' breakfasts. After each breakfast, her sons enjoyed hearing the latest news about the lives of their former teachers.

Thomas is a veteran and for many years Anne and her husband would attend the yearly reunions of the 999th Armored Field Artillery Battalion. She became the 999th secretary keeping a database of members. Anne and Thomas hosted two reunions. The reunions ended some years ago, but she kept in touch with the last few surviving members.

Anne always wanted to help those around her even when it was her that needed help. On days when she felt she didn’t contribute enough she used a saying she borrowed from her mother: “I’m not worth the salt in my soup today.”

No matter what her medical condition, she always made sure to say something that would bring a smile or laugh to those around her. Whether that was her family, a friend or a nurse. Each day of her life she tried to make the lives of those around her better. Although she is no longer with us on earth, she now looks after her family and friends from Heaven.

Visitation was Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, from 10 a.m. - 10:45 a.m. Mass of Christian burial followed at 11 a.m. at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, 3100 South 41st Street, Milwaukee.

In lieu of flowers you may donate to a favorite veteran’s charity.

Paid obituary 160641