Lillian (Skrzypcak) Burish

Lillian Burish, age 83, formerly of Marathon, Wisconsin passed away peacefully with her family by her side on Tuesday, June 21, 2022 at Marshfield Medical Center – Weston Hospital.

Lillian was born September 14, 1938 in the Town of Cassel to Martin and Helen (Rodman) Skrzypcak. She was the fifth of six children.  She married James Burish (the love of her life) at Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church, Marathon, Wisconsin. They were married for 63 years before Jim’s death in 2019.

Lillian was a loving wife and partner to our dad, who always called her “Lill”.  In 1961, they bought a cheese factory south of Marathon. Jim was the cheesemaker and Lillian did all the accounting for their business.  Later, she became the back-up milk truck hauler as well as hauling their cheese with another truck to Wausau. Early in the 1970’s, Jim and Lillian started raising ginseng.  She did the spraying on their first garden and always helped with every aspect of growing ginseng. She never turned down a chance to drive a tractor or to drive her stick- shift Jeep Scrambler!

Lillian loved her family more than anything. She took great pride in having her family over, preparing and serving a great meal. Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, Mother and Father’s Day, Jim and Lillian’s birthdays were always a reason to have a great feast! Lillian was a great cook and she took extra pleasure in seeing her 5 grandsons’ appetite grow as they grew older. It just meant she could make more. And always more than one desert choice!

Lillian is survived by her children, David (Marie) Burish and Kay (Randy) Voigt, both of Wausau; son-in-law, Dean Ruplinger, Mosinee; grandsons, Reverend Jesse Burish, Christopher (Kera) Burish, Jamison (Anne Rapp) Burish, Bennett (Megan) Ruplinger and Jordan Ruplinger; great grandsons, James Ruplinger and Emmett Ruplinger; brother, Marvin (Kathy) Skrzypcak; brothers-in-law, Norbert (Barbara) Burish and Michael Burish; sisters-in-law,  Janet Skrzypchak, Shirley Reid, Dawn Mae Burish, Joyce Burish, Mary Jane Burish, LouAnn Burish, Shirley Burish, and Kathy Burish.

Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, James in 2019; daughter, Mary Lynn Ruplinger in 2006, brothers, Alex (Doris) Skrzypcak, Louis Skrzypcak; sisters, Dolores (George) Schueller and Cecilia Skrzypcak; father and mother-in-law, Edward and Leora Burish; sisters-in-law, Margaret Burish, Sister Beatrice Burish, Beatrice (David) Wadzinski; brothers-in-law, Rueben Burish, Eugene (Donna) Burish, Marlen (Theresa) Burish, Elton Burish, Edward Burish, John (Susie) Burish, Clarence Skrzypchak, Roland Reid, Anthony Burish, Kenneth Burish and Thomas Burish.

The funeral Mass will be celebrated at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 26, 2022 at St. Mary Catholic Church, Marathon.  The Very Rev. Jesse Burish and Rev. Msgr. Joseph Diermeier will co-preside. Burial will be in the parish cemetery.  Visitation will be on Sunday from 1:00 p.m. until the time of service at the church. In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to St. Mary Catholic Church or St. Mary’s School.

The family would like to thank the staff at Pride TLC for their love and kindness in caring for our mom during her stay there.

Peterson/Kraemer Funeral Home, Marathon is in charge of arrangements.  Online condolences may be expressed at www.petersonkraemer.com