Rose Lillian Wank

Rose Lillian Wank died Tuesday, February 27, after living for 98 years. She’s survived by her 4 sons and their wives, Paul (Sherry), Richard (Jeanne), Thomas (Leah), and Anthony (Rebecca). She’s also survived by her grandchildren Sarah, Michael, Gabriel, and Caleb. Her husband, Gabriel Wank, and her grandson, Alexander Wank, passed before she did.

She was born in Milwaukee on January 11, 1926, and raised by her immigrant parents in Bayview during the Depression. Her first language was Croatian. Bayview was an immigrant community at the time and over 20 languages were spoken in her grade school, where she learned to speak English. During WWII, she worked for the Department of the Navy in Washington then came home to help take care of her father after he’d had a stroke. Neither she nor Gabe were drinkers but sometime in 1949, they were both persuaded by friends to go to a bar where they met. A year later, on July 1,1950, they were married.

Mom was a longtime resident of Pewaukee where she and Dad moved from Milwaukee. She was active in the Pewaukee Women’s Club, various choral groups, and mostly was busy trying to raise four sons. She was an only child and had no experience with brothers or close male relatives or raising boys and we weren’t easy on her. We think she did a pretty good job of it though.

Shorehaven in Oconomowoc has been her home for the past 10 years where she was a killer Scrabble player and loved to sing. She’s even on the Shorehaven Facebook page singing “Hello Dolly.” The staff and other residents were entertained with stories of “her boys.” Mom may not have been able to tell you what she had for breakfast, but she could instantly tell cute stories about every stupid or embarrassing thing any of us has ever done.

Dad died 20 years ago, and Mom has been wanting to “go be with Gabe” for all that time. She has finally been granted her wish. We’re going to miss you, say hi to dad from all of us.

Mom loved flowers, but she’ll never see the ones anyone sends so please give flowers to someone you love or donate to your favorite charity in her name. She’d like that.

A memorial service will take place on Friday, March 8, 2024 at 11:00am at the Chapel at Shorehaven (1305 W. Wisconsin Avenue, Oconomowoc, WI 53066).