Gladys Lucille (Gacek) Matyka

Gladys L. Matyka, 93, of Rib Lake died Monday, October 9, 2023 at Rib Lake Health Services surrounded by her family and while under the care of Hope Hospice.

A memorial service will be held at 11am, Wednesday, October 18, 2023 at Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Rib Lake with Fr. Patrick McConnell officiating.  Burial will follow at Historic St. Ann’s Cemetery in the town of Greenwood.

Visitation will be on Wednesday at the church from 9am until the time of service at 11am.

Gladys, daughter of Benedick and Tekla (Niemiec) Gacek, was born August 18, 1930 in Rib Lake, WI where she grew up and graduated from Rib Lake High School.  

On April 14, 1951 she married Frank Matyka at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Rib Lake.  They resided in the town of Greenwood where Gladys worked as a cook at Rib River School and later as a cook and server at the Little Bohemia.  She also worked as a Certified Nursing Assistant at the Rib Lake Nursing Home.  She will always be remembered for her wonderful cooking and baking, as well as her service to others.

Throughout her life, Gladys dedicated countless hours to serving the church and the community of Rib Lake. She was both an active volunteer at church events, gatherings, and services as well as a committed member of the Christian Mothers organization. In the community, Gladys participated in the Volunteer Reader Program with Rib Lake School District for many years, reading to young children, helping them learn to read on their own, and inspiring them to enjoy reading just as she did. Gladys also spent time helping at the nursing home caring for residents when she no longer worked there. Because of her dedication to service, Gladys was awarded for her volunteer work in Taylor County.

She is survived by eight children, Robert (Joyce), Diane (David) Acker, Alan, Gail (Jerry) Thieme, Peggy (Tony) Butera, Kenneth (Dawn), David, Janine (Jeff) Probst; sister-in-law, Bernice Matyka; 19 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Frank on April 26, 2009; siblings, Helen Magnus, Sophia Kroll, Emily Niggemann, Marie Szmania, Eleanor Posanski, Evelyn Holly, John, Stanley and Frank Gacek; a daughter, Mary in infancy; grandson, Christopher Matyka; great-grandchildren, Mackensie and Lindsay Matyka.

Hemer-Pickerign Funeral & Cremation Services of Medford and Rib Lake is serving the family. Please visit www.hemerfuneralservice.com to share condolences online.

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