Elaine Oelke

Elaine Oelke, 86 of Wausau passed away on Monday, July 16, 2018 at her home.

In her parent’s town of Stettin home, Elaine was born January 11, 1932 to the late Bernhard and Margaret (Anklam) Buttke.  At Trinity Lutheran Church in the town of Stettin, she was baptized, confirmed and met the love of her life, Glenn Oelke at Catechism class.  At that very same church, Elaine married Glenn on July 12, 1950.  This past Thursday they celebrated 68 years of marriage.   After twenty years of working at Pauley Cheese in Edgar, Elaine then devoted her time in helping raise her two grandchildren, Miranda and Stetson.  Elaine was an active member of Trinity, where she participated in Bible Study, Afternoon Circle and helped with many funeral lunches.  She enjoyed playing cards, listening to Polka music and going Up North to visit friends at Pine Lake.  She loved to can, cook and bake bread from scratch for her family.  You could also find Elaine doing needlepoint or embroidery while watching her favorite soap, The Young and The Restless.

Survivors include her husband, Glenn of Wausau, daughter, Suzanne (John) Young of Wausau, son, Steve (Tracey Botterud) Oelke of Wausau, two grandchildren, Miranda (Seth) Erickson of Athens, Stetson (Amanda) Oelke of Marathon, four great grandchildren, Hunter, Ava, Bryn and Montgomery, brother, Allen (Karen) Buttke of Wausau, three sisters, Marlene (Merlin) Pruss of Fond du lac, Lou Ann (Donald) Zamzow of Weston, Bonita Buttke of Minnetonka, MN and sister-in-law, Shirley (Martin) Hannemann of Rib Mountain.

Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, July 21, 2018 at Trinity Lutheran Church, 1008 N. 120th Ave., Wausau.  Reverend Dan Sire will officiate.  Burial will be in Stettin Christian Cemetery.  Visitation will be Saturday at the church from 9:00 a.m. until the time of services.  You may sign our family guest book at helke.com.

We would like to thank the nurses at Aspirus Comfort Care and Hospice Service and the staff at Mountain Terrace for all their care, concern and kindness they gave Elaine and our family.