Clara M. Shelbrack

Clara Matilda Shelbrack The last pearl was added to the strand in Heaven when Clara Shelbrack, age 96, passed away on March 28, 2012 at Hospice House, Wausau. She was born February 10, 1916 in Polonia, daughter of the late John Paul and Helen (Konapacki) Ostrowski and the last child of 14 to enter the gates of Heaven. On March 8, 1936 she married Clem Shelbrack at St. Michael Catholic Church, Wausau. She was a mother and homemaker who also worked on the family farm and when her children were grown took a job at the Hoffman House. Clara enjoyed bowling, reading, tending to her gardens, canning in one year 700 quarts of her bounty. She also enjoyed word puzzles and visits from her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Clara was a wonderful cook and baker making the holidays very special at her house. In her younger years she was active at St. Matthew Catholic Church and when she was too sick to attend Father Bob made frequent treks to her home with her dear friends , Norma and Peggy. Clara was a member of Catholic Daughters of America, National Catholic Society of Foresters and the Ladies Council of St. Matthew Catholic Church. The roar of cheers and the whisper of angel wings must have been deafening when she joined her large and loving family in Heaven. Survivors include her four sons, August "Jack" (Shirley) Shelbrack, Clem Jr. (Gloria) Shelbrack, Clarence Shelbrack and Richard Shelbrack; three daughters, Carol Jean (Jerry) Toftum, Jayne (Ron) Steiner and Bonita (Jim) Crochiere; 25 grandchildren, 31 great-grandchildren. Besides her parents and husband, Clem of 59 years, Clara was preceded in death by her step-mother, Matilda Klopotek, three brothers, Harry, Stanley and Benedict and ten sisters, Laura, Regina, Martha, Amelia, Agnes, Susan, Helen, Elizabeth, Bertha and Angeline; and a granddaughter, Tami Clara Katzenburger. The funeral Mass will be celebrated 11:00 a.m. Saturday, March 31, 2012 at St. Matthew Catholic Church, Wausau. Rev. Robert Thorn will preside. Entombment will be in Memorial Chapel Mausoleum, Restlawn Memorial Park, Wausau. Friends may call Saturday from 9:30 a.m. until the time of services all at the church. The family would like to give special thanks to all Clara's friends and relatives that visited, to Renaissance Assisted Living for the special care given to her there and to Florence, Betty and Doris who became a special part of her day as her lunch mates that shared their life stories with her. The family would also like to thank the doctors, nurses and CNA's at Aspirus Wausau Hospital and Hospice House for their loving care. Thank you also to Father Bob who seemed to appear out of nowhere when they needed him. "Please love and keep each other as my Father said to do" In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to St. Matthew Catholic Church, Wausau. Peterson/Kraemer Funeral Home, 3400 Stewart Ave, Wausau, is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be expressed at www.petersonkraemer.com