Julia Wiskow

Julia Wiskow, 88, of Greenbush, MN, died Wednesday, September 13, 2017 in LifeCare Greenbush Manor.

Julia Ann (Shimpa) Wiskow was born June 16, 1929 at her home in Barnett Township, Roseau County, rural Greenbush, MN to parents Albert & Julia (Kaml) Shimpa. She was baptized and confirmed at Zion Lutheran Church, rural Greenbush.

She attended grades 1-8 at District 23 Stoffel Country School. She then attended grades 9-12 in Greenbush, graduating with the Class of 1948.

Julia met Floyd Wiskow at a barn dance. She had never seen Floyd before. They danced all night and that was the beginning of their life together. They were married on October 10, 1949 at Zion Lutheran Church, rural Greenbush. They built their first and only home and lived in it their entire married life, until Julia moved into the nursing home in Greenbush in 2004. This was a big adjustment for her, to downsize her whole life into one room. You couldn’t take her love of sewing, cooking, baking & gardening out of her life and so she continued to do those things until her death.

Julia worked hard on the farm, milking cows, raising sheep, pigs, chickens, working in the fields from sunup to sundown. Julia’s love of her baking and cooking landed her and Floyd jobs at Paradise Café in Strathcona, MN, where she was known for her homemade pies.

Julia wanted to still attend events and had gone to the Northland Threshing Bee for breakfast, before falling and breaking her hip that afternoon. She fought hard to live, but like she said, her body was just worn out.

Left to mourn her passing are 4 children—Merlyn (Kari) Wiskow of Greenbush, Dennis (Debbie Ann) Wiskow of Greenbush, Yvonne (Rick) Sikorski of Lancaster & Dale (Deb) Wiskow of Karlstad, MN.

Grandchildren—Joshua (Tanya), Joseph (Joni) & Jacob Wiskow, Trent (Tara), Dane (Kaci) & Kaela (Nick) Wiskow, Shanon (Wendy) Sikorski, Tina Marie (Jamie) Isane, Brent (Andrea) Wiskow & Neil Wiskow.

24 great-grandchildren—Austin, Taylor & Brody Wiskow; Swayze & Remmik Wiskow; Ellie & Tanner Wiskow; Trevor, Trey & Treston Nicols; Holly, Emerson Akker & Ren Wiskow; Norah, Nash & Jayde Osowski; Daron & Billie Sikorski; Isaak, Tyler & Jenessa Isane; Elliot & Emmitt Isane.

Her sister—Florence (Gayferd) Gustafson of Enumclaw, WA, & sisters-in-law—Evelyn Shimpa of Euclid, MN & Elvina Shimpa of Greenbush & several other relatives & friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband—Floyd on December 6, 1996, brothers—Louis & Albert Shimpa Jr., sister—Lillian (Shimpa) Mattson & a granddaughter—Julie (Sikorski) Isane on May 25, 2017.

Funeral Services were held on Monday, September 18 at 11 AM in United Free Lutheran Church of Greenbush with Pastor LeRoy Petersen and Pastor Alvin Sather, officiating. Rachel Green was the organist and vocal music was provided by Jody Kirkeide. The Reader was Kari Wiskow. The Pallbearers were Julia’s 10 surviving grandchildren; Shanon Sikorski, Tina Marie Isane, Trent, Joshua, Joseph, Dane, Brent, Kaela, Neil & Jacob Wiskow. The Honorary Pallbearers were her 24 great-grandchildren.

Burial was in Klondike Cemetery, Poplar Grove Township, rural Strathcona, MN, with arrangements with Gieseke Funeral Chapel of Greenbush.