Obituary of Norma (Eide) Polansky

Norma (Eide) Polansky, of 3221 Deer Road, Wisconsin Rapids, entered eternal rest on July 16, 2011 after a brave battle with cancer.

A memorial service will be held at 1 P.M. on Wednesday, July 20 at the Taylor, Vollert & Jennings Funeral Home, with the Rev. Robert Buckman and Rev. Roger Polansky officiating. Entombment will be in the Forest Hill Mausoleum.

Norma Stella Polansky was born July 12, 1931 in Nelson, Wisconsin to Norman and Sadie. She was baptized in Lyster Lutheran Church. Norma attended Norwegian Valley School in rural Nelson until the death of her mother in 1940. She then lived with relatives in Nelson, Wabash, Minnesota, Oshkosh and Eau Claire, Wisconsin. She graduated from Eau Claire Senior High School in 1949. She was employed in Eau Claire at Wisconsin Bell Telephone Company until moving to Wisconsin Rapids in 1953. She was employed at Preway and then Nekoosa Edwards Paper Company, in Port Edwards, as a receptionist. On May 22, 1954, she married Elton Polansky at Immanuel Lutheran Church.

Norma is survived by her husband of 57 years, three daughters: Vicki (John) Steiner, Sara (Erick) Braaksma, both of Wisconsin Rapids, and Karen (Mark) Dostal of Custer, Wisconsin. Six grandchildren: Graham (China) Dostal of Chicago, Illinois, Amy (Russ) Kezeske of Stevens Point, Allison Steiner of Lake Delton, Kyle Braaksma of Wisconsin Rapids, Robin Dostal of Custer, and Christopher Steiner of Wisconsin Rapids. Adored great-grandchildren, Conner and Caleb Kezeske. Two brothers A.J. (Annie) Eide of St. Louis Park, Minnesota, and Don (Joyce) Eide of Farmington, Minnesota, and a sister Janice (David) Reinhardt of Wausau.

Norma was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers, Marvin and Roy Eide, and one sister, Olive Weitz, two nephews, Rocky Weitz and Randy Eide, and one niece, Mary (Weitz) Fuhr.

Norma loved to travel. She and Elton traveled extensively in Europe and appreciated the history and culture there. They enjoyed the natural beauty of Mexico and Hawaii. Where her children were young , Norma packed the camper and the family took regular camping trips throughout Wisconsin and the American West. She passed along her love of the natural world to her children during these fun and adventurous camping experiences.

Norma had a green thumb and grew substantial vegetable gardens. She was an expert at and did a great deal of home food preservation and loved to share her produce with her family. One of Norma’s passions was her flower gardens. She kept beautiful flower gardens both at home in Wisconsin Rapids and at their hobby farm for many years in Buffalo County near Nelson, Wisconsin and her childhood home. She cultivated many varieties of wildflowers as well as colorful perennials and annuals.

Norma spent an extraordinary time with her grandchildren as they were growing up. She loved to fix them special meals , play Rummy Tile, read, go for walks and have the grandkids sleep overnight. Grandma’s house was always a favorite place for the kids. To Norma, family was most precious. She unselfishly cared for everyone in the family, providing wonderful meals, a happy home, good advice, and unconditional love.

Friends may call at Taylor, Vollert and Jennings Funeral Home in Wisconsin Rapids from 4:00 to 8:00 pm on Tuesday.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial will be dedicated in Norma’s name at a later date.