Viola Lang

Viola M. Lang, 87, of Wausau passed away Monday, March 12, 2012 at Aspirus Wausau Hospital. She was born January 12, 1925 in Racine to the late George and Anna (Kuttel) Filber. On September 12, 1944, Vi married Mark Lang at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Marathon. She was employed at Bill's Fine Food and Hoffman House. Vi and Mark later managed the Column Apartments until retiring in 1986.

Viola and Mark shared their love of dancing, fishing in winter and summer, visiting the casinos and playing cards, especially cribbage which they played at a competitive level early in their marriage. Vi's home and rooms at Marywood and Care Partners Assisted Living were filled with pictures of her family. She kept track of the activities of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She recounted to her friends how many grands she had and made it a point of pride to have so many of her family attend socials at Marywood.

Survivors include two sons, Denis (Jeanne) Lang, Jerome (Joanne) Lang all of Wausau, her daughter, Georgia (Gene) Damp of Wausau, 10 grandchildren, 20 great grandchildren, 5 great great grandchildren, sisters-in-laws Beverly and Barbara Filber, Isabelle Misudek, Stella Cortright, Evelyn Lang, Dolores Lang, and Fred and Patricia Lang. She is also survived by her cousin Arlene Christiansen, who was like a sister to Viola. Vi was preceded in death by Mark on March 13, 1998, daughter, Leilani Butalla, and two brothers, LeRoy and George Filber Jr.

Funeral services will be 11:30 a.m., Thursday, March 15, 2012 at Grace United Church of Christ. Reverend Wayne Drueck will officiate. Entombment will be in Memorial Chapel Mausoleum at Restlawn Memorial Park. Visitation will be Thursday at the church from 10:00 a.m. until the time of services. You may sign our family guest book at helke.com. Memorials may be sent to the charity of your choice.

The family would like to extend thanks to the caregivers at Marywood Nursing Home and Care Partners Assisted Living for the loving attention, care and friendship given to Viola. Thanks also to the medical teams at Aspirus Hospital, especially the emergency room and CTU staffs, for the care and respect given to Vi during her many hospitalizations.


REFLECTIONS
Good Afternoon and thank you so much for being here today, I am Jeanne Lang, Vi's daughter-in-law and Denis' wife.
We gather today to celebrate the life of Viola Filber Lang, A.K.A. Grandma Ollie, a wonderful wife, mother, daughter, grandmother, great-grandmother, great-great grandmother, sister, sister-in-law, aunt, cousin, parishioner and friend; A member of the Greatest Generation as described by Tom Brokow in his book. Vi was truly a great among this great generation.
Today in the Scripture we heard many times that adversity need not separate us from the love of Christ. We heard that He always is with us no matter what trials come into our lives. He bears our crosses with us to show us His love.
Vi felt that love and she shared it with others. She was a person who was very charismatic. Someone people were drawn to and wanted as a friend, much like Jesus was. She loved her family and liked to dance, fish, play cards (even competitive cribbage), go to family socials and reunions and be with friends. Her life was not always an easy one. She struggled as a young wife and mother who was blessed with three children under 2 years of age at one time. Most of you know those children and know that they were quite a handful, as Vi often related. Denis shares often that if he and Jerry were not naughty enough for a daily spanking, Vi gave them an enema because she thought they were sick! Vi never denied this tale. In fact, I suspect the boys inherited that mischievous streak from their mother, who likely inherited it from her wonderful mother Anna, who migrated all by herself from Switzerland as a 19 year old. Because Vi was a strong, positive role model, her children always loved and respected her as Jesus respected His Father and mother.
As part of the greatest generation she had a strong sense of pride. She was most uncomfortable if her hair was not as she liked it. Even though she claimed to be nearly blind, she could spot a speck of dirt on the floor for at least 20 feet! The property at the Columns Apartments has won beautification awards. Her car was faithfully washed weekly. She was extremely well organized. She kept up the family albums and her personal records in an orderly and timely way. Articles about family members were cut out and put in her books. She knew what she liked and how she liked it and was not shy about sharing her views.
Mark and Vi knew what it was like to lose a job and be forced to move their family. She knew what it was like to work long hours on her feet waitressing until 2:00 AM, drive 15 miles home, then get up to get four children off to school. She loved making thousands of woodpecker toys and clothes pin rockers and chairs with Mark. During her work at the Columns Apartments she was a "nosy" manager who protected the tenants and property by knowing the normal comings and goings. She questioned tenants and strangers alike if something appeared amiss. Denis, Jerry and Bunny lectured her when at 80+ years of age, she unlocked an apartment and went in to extinguish a burning frying pan. One night she opened a vacant apartment door to shag out a vagrant she found sleeping on the floor after following a trail of clothes. She was often known to chase strangers out of the pool long after pool hours. She was her own 911! As a good steward she worked hard and was always pleasant and full of joy at work and home as God's plan unfolded in her life.
Vi was a very private person who was fiercely independent. Yet even when she needed to give up driving and move to assisted living, she managed to arrange to get all she wanted and made new friends. These new friends now feel they have lost someone with whom they have shared a life-time of friendship, rather than just a few months. Many of those who cared for her at Marywood openly wept as they learned of her death, just as Jesus wept at the death of his friend Lazarus. They called her the Jelly Bean Lady at Marywood and we have a packet of her favorite Starburst jelly beans with a poem Vi had tucked away in her memoires for each of you to take with you today. She was very difficult to care for at times, but when she looked you in the eye, said "Thank you" with a twinkle in her eye as she patted your hand, or you saw the pain in her eyes, or she reminded you to take some candy as you left her, you quickly remembered how much fun she was when she felt good.
Her health issues were multiple. The ER doctor laughed with her as he said, "oh, it's you again" as she checked into ER five times since Christmas. And yet she announced a week before she died that she wanted to live, even if all she could do was talk to people. The nurse that was with Vi as she died said she could tell what a special person she had been after knowing her for only 12 hours. The Marywood and Care Partner Assisted Living staffs and the Aspirus Hospital staff afforded her great dignity as they worked diligently to preserve her life and keep her comfortable each time she needed help. She told them often of her gratefulness, right after she balled them out for poking her to draw blood.
By all accounts Vi was a very forthright person. She said it like she saw it, but she had the talent to be direct while she allowed you to keep your dignity. Even the pastor knew where Vi stood on church matters, especially changes. People liked Vi, even as she pointed out a perceived fault. Her sense of humor and fun was an important part of her life always. VI loved her coffee and was sure that 10 or more cups a day did not have anything to do with her inability to get to sleep at night! She was a risk-taker who as part of the Greatest Generation could handle the most difficult situations with aplomb.
Vi was a proud 50+ year member of this church. We are sure her spirit is looking down upon the family and friends gathered here today from her favorite spot up in the balcony. She is probably thinking something very special about each one of you as you remember all the things that made her special to you. If she ever hurt or offended you, I am sure she asks your forgiveness. She did the best she could. If she ever made your day, I am sure she remembers all the glorious details of your time together!
Vi, what a grand lady you were! You were bigger than life in so many ways. Now rest and enjoy your eternal reward. Be well and at peace, my other mother, my friend.