ALICE GAZECKI

Alice M. Gazecki, age 88, passed away peacefully at St. Elizabeth Hospital on June 15, 2022.

Alice was born in the small farming community of Borth, WI, on June 21, 1933 to the late Fred and Frieda (Pollex) Bisser. Alice was born into her family as the middle of three children – Louise (the oldest) and Fred (the youngest). Alice and her family farmed in several small communities in WI until moving to Oshkosh when she was 16. Alice was confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church and graduated from Oshkosh High School in 1951. She loved living in Oshkosh with her family in a beautiful, old house on Elmwood Avenue across the street from the university.

After graduating from high school, Alice worked as a teller at First National Bank in downtown Oshkosh. While she enjoyed working at the bank, Alice saw how much more a couple of her friends were earning as typesetters at the Oshkosh Northwestern newspaper when they brought in their paychecks. She asked them to let her know of any openings there and soon, she was working as a typesetter for the newspaper! Alice worked there full-time until her daughter, Tina, was born in 1970.

Alice was introduced to her husband, Jim Gazecki, through mutual friends. They got married on July 7, 1966, and subsequently purchased their first home together on Grove Street in Menasha in 1968 where they resided for 42 years. After suffering several miscarriages, Alice and Jim were elated to become parents to their daughter, Tina, in 1970.

Alice was a wonderful mother. She was always very involved in Tina's life – volunteering as an aide at her elementary school, attending all concerts/sporting events/activities, and always supporting and loving unconditionally. In 1991, Alice gained a son-in-law when Tina married her husband, David Skarsten. Alice welcomed David like a son into the family. She felt blessed to also have him be her pastor for the last 18 years.

Alice was thrilled to become a grandma to Rachel (1993) and Jared (1996)! They had many sleepovers together and enjoyed baking, going to movies, playing cards/games, and having picnics in the backyard. She even came along on family vacations occasionally (Branson, Frankenmuth, and Disney) before needing to be home to care for Jim. She was affectionately referred to as “G-ma.” G-ma gained her third grandchild in 2017, when Rachel married her husband, Murad. Murad enjoyed treating his adopted grandma to steak dinners, taking her to the State Fair, and teaching her words in his native language. She even learned (kind of) how to use a smartphone so she could better keep in touch with her grandkids through Facebook and WhatsApp.

Alice also gave back to her community through volunteerism. She was an active member of her church, St. Timothy Lutheran (ELCA), for over 55 years. She served on the church council, service committee, intern committee, counting committee, and was a long-time member of the Wednesday Bible study group. She also volunteered time in the kitchen for funeral meals, visited homebound members, and helped resettle a Hmong refugee family the church sponsored. Alice received a “Good Neighbor Award” for her efforts helping older members of the community. She also volunteered at the Theda Clark Hospital Information Desk for many years,

mentored a young girl through the Best Friends organization, and mailed many cards and letters of support to others throughout the years.

Alice was a loving and devoted wife to Jim throughout their marriage. This was especially evident during Jim's 15-year struggle with dementia. She cared for him at home for 12 challenging years and visited him daily at the nursing home for the final years of his life. Alice was a woman of great faith, generosity, and empathy. She saw the good in people and truly followed God's calling to love others. Despite the struggles that come with aging, she always tried to embrace life and be thoughtful.

Alice enjoyed flowers and gardening, Cranky Pat's cheese pizza, grocery shopping (can you imagine?!), treasure hunting at thrift stores/rummage sales, the movie “Planes, Trains, and Automobiles,” dogs, feeding the birds and squirrels outside her apartment, and of course visiting with friends and family. She enjoyed talking on the phone with her older sister Louise almost daily.

Those left to celebrate her memory are her daughter Tina (David) Skarsten, granddaughter Rachel (Murad) Skarsten-Karim, and grandson Jared Skarsten. She is further survived by her sister Louise (Arlyn) Dieck, sister-in-law Karen Bisser, and nephew Jonathan Dieck and nieces Gayle Dieck (fiancée Ian), Cindy Bisser, and Janet Bisser.

Alice joins in heaven her husband Jim, her first husband Ennis Boegh, her parents Fred and Frieda, brother Fred Bisser, as well as other cherished relatives and friends.

The funeral service will be held on Tuesday, June 21 (on what would have been her 89th birthday) at St. Timothy Lutheran Church (473 Seventh Street, Menasha, WI 54952) at 11:30 a.m. Pastor David Skarsten and Pastor Cindy Bisser will be officiating. A visitation will be held from 10:30 a.m. at the church until the time of the service with a luncheon following. A private burial service will be held at Riverside Cemetery in Oshkosh.

Alice's family requests that those who wish to make a donation in memory of her consider making a contribution to her beloved church – St. Timothy Lutheran

The memorial service for Alice will be livestreamed at Westgor's YouTube Channel and Facebook page