EVELYN “MAE” REVAK
EVELYN “MAE” REVAK
Evelyn “Mae” Revak of Neillsville, WI, was called home to Heaven Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025, just two months shy of her 99th birthday.
A celebration of life service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 29, 2025, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Neillsville, WI, with a luncheon to follow in the church basement. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, March 28, at Gesche Funeral Home in Neillsville, concluding with a Rosary service at 6:45 p.m. Additional visitation will be offered from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the church. Burial will be in St. Stephen’s Catholic Cemetery in Chili, WI, at a later date.
Mae was born April 23, 1926, to John D. and Marie A. (Reshel) Curtin in the township of Richfield, Wood County, WI. She was the middle child of nine children. She attended Shady Nook School (Richfield Township), St. Joseph’s Catholic School (Hewett), St. Mary’s Catholic School (Bakersville) and St. John’s Parochial School (Marshfield) and graduated in 1944 from Marshfield Senior High School. She also attended one year of Teachers College at the Wood County Normal School.
Hard work defined Mae. Prior to her marriage to Robert M. Barth Oct. 20, 1945, she was a crane operator at Allis Chalmers in Milwaukee. Mae and Robert resided near Lynn where they farmed until they divorced in 1967. Robert died in 2003. Mae also worked at the Marshfield Shoe Factory, Lynn Dairy, JC Penney’s and as an election clerk for the Town of Lynn. Later, Mae worked full-time for Marshfield Homes for 20 years until her retirement in 1988. However, she continued working seasonally at Figi’s well into her 80s for some extra Christmas money.
Mae married Carl Revak March 31, 1973, and their marriage continued for 30 years until Carl’s death in 2003. Mae and Carl spent much of their married life in Lynn where they owned the Dew Drop Inn. Mae loved her family “with her whole heart” and she enjoyed hosting parties for her family while she was able. She bowled for 30 years with women from the Granton area, walked three miles a day for 20 years after her retirement and loved to polka dance and play softball. Mae played in the annual Granton Family Feud softball tournaments for 17 years with four generations of her family. Her last tournament was at the age of 85 where she batted and played catcher! Mae was honored to be named the Grandparent of the Year for the 2011 Granton Fall Festival. She was a life-long baseball fan and especially enjoyed watching the Brewers. She was a friend to all and will be remembered by many as “Mamma Mae.” Her spunky attitude and ability to tell a good joke endeared her to many.
Mae loved God, and she believed in the power of prayer. She was a life-long member of Catholic churches in the area, including St. Stephen’s in Chili where she was an active member of the Altar Society, St. Anthony’s in Loyal, Sacred Heart in Marshfield and most recently St. Mary’s in Neillsville. The good Lord carried her through the difficult times and walked alongside her every day.
In June 2024, Mae celebrated her 98th birthday with a big party for family and friends. Over 150 people attended the event, which included dinner and dancing to a polka band. She had two wishes for the day: to reunite her nieces and nephews with her children and grandchildren and to dance a polka with each of her grandsons. Mae thoroughly enjoyed the day and was so happy to see everyone in attendance.
Mae is preceded in death by her parents and her siblings, including brothers David, Jack, Harry and LaRoy Curtin; as well as her sisters, Henrietta “Hank” Schutz, Arlayne Jonas, Elayne Brandriet and Patricia “Pat” Wacynski. Mae was also preceded in death by her stepdaughter Cathy (Revak) Rzepecki; daughters-in-law Kathy (Bauer) Barth and Barbara (Nelson) Revak; sons-in-law John Michalski and Craig Moore; and grandsons Christopher Barth, Douglas Barth and Jeffrey Barth.
Mae is survived by her children Robert “Bob” Barth of Neillsville, Georgianna Michalski of Greenfield, William “Bill” (Barb) Barth of Granton, Randy (Ann) Barth of Chili, Lori (David) Krueger of Cedar Rapids, IA, Mark (Dawn Hainz) Barth of Neillsville and Carol (Revak) Moore, Gary Revak and Gene Revak all of Phillips.
She also leaves behind a legacy of 30 grandchildren, 49 great-grandchildren and 8 great-great-grandchildren, plus a number of “adopted” children and grandchildren from the area.
Honorary pall bearers will be the oldest child from each family of her 10 children: David Barth, Michael Michalski, Christopher Barth (in memoriam), Jeremy Barth, Brandon Krueger, Wendy (Barth) Backaus, Tammi (Moore) Stunkel, Cori Jo (Rzepecki) Caulkins, Aaron Revak and Vanessa Revak.
The family would like to thank the Neillsville Retirement Community staff for taking such good care of Mae while she was a resident. Thank you also to Chaplain Randy and nurses Breanna Schuld and Amanda Ruff with St. Croix Hospice. We feel very blessed that you all cared for our mother in her time of need.
Online condolences may be made at www.geschefh.com.
The Gesche Funeral Home is assisting Mae’s family with funeral arrangements.