Catherine Agnes Staskal

All who knew Catherine Staskal would agree that she was one of the sweetest people around. She was never one to say anything unkind about anyone else, and she was so appreciative of everything and everyone in her life. Catherine’s devotion to her loved ones was unmatched, and she loved watching her family tree grow to include the grandchildren and great-grandchildren she adored. Life will never be the same without Catherine here, but she leaves behind a timeless legacy that her loved ones will proudly carry on in her footsteps.

Life was exciting during the decade that we commonly recall as the Roaring Twenties. Innovation was leading the way to new technology, and things like radios, refrigerators, and motion pictures in both color and sound became threads woven throughout the cultural fabric of our nation. It was also during this exciting time that cars became more affordable for the average American as they were being widely mass produced on assembly lines all across our great land. Amidst this same time was a time of great joy in the lives of Frank and Mary (Jankowski) Knapp as they announced the birth of the baby girl they named Catherine Agnes on September 24, 1924, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The second of five children, she was joined in her family by her older sister, Dorothy, and her younger sister, Lucille, as well as her younger brothers, Francis and Gerald. Raised in Milwaukee, Catherine was a typical young girl of her generation. She attended local schools and graduated from high school. During the days of WWII in the early 1940s, Catherine worked in a factory winding springs.

New and exciting changes were in store for Catherine when she met the young man who would forever hold the key to her heart. His name was Thomas F. Staskal, and they were introduced through mutual friends. With a desire to spend the rest of their lives together Catherine and Thomas were married in 1949. Together they were blessed to welcome two sons including Thomas in 1950 and Robert in 1954 into their hearts and home. In 1955, the Staskal family moved from Milwaukee to Oak Creek, and this is where Catherine called home for the rest of her life.

There was never anything of greater importance to Catherine than her family, and this included extended family members. Christmas was always held at her parents’ home in Milwaukee, and both Thanksgiving and Easter were spent at her in-laws’ farm in Fennimore, Wisconsin. Catherine’s family appreciated that she was amazing in the kitchen, especially when it came to baking. She was a fantastic cook, but she was especially known for her baked treats. The best part is that Catherine made sure that anyone who came to her home had the opportunity to sample something. In 2005, she was deeply saddened with the death of her beloved husband after 56 years of marriage.

Throughout her life Catherine was always one to be busy. As a young newlywed she worked as a salesperson at JC Penney, and she later worked at Dogs ’N Suds restaurant in Oak Creek. In 1963, Catherine took a position in the food service area at the Oak Creek School System. Most of her years were spent at Oak Creek High School until retiring after 34 years of dedicated service. To keep busy, Catherine enjoyed doing crossword puzzles, crocheting, knitting, and reading. She had a nice collection of salt and pepper shakers, and she took great pride in growing African violets inside and tending to her rose bushes outside.

With a life that spanned times of war and times of peace, times of plenty and times of want, Catherine Staskal was a blessing in the lives of so many around her. She was outgoing, friendly, and generous with a selfless spirit that was unmatched. Catherine was so blessed to share most of her life with her sweetheart, and together they experienced so many of the best things that life has to offer. Deeply loved, she will be forever missed.

Catherine A. Staskal (nee Knapp) Born to eternal life December 10, 2019 at the age of 95. Preceded in death by her beloved husband Thomas F. Staskal. Cherished mother of Thomas G. (Jolene) Staskal and Robert (Cheryl Resop) Staskal. Loving grandmother of Thomas H. Staskal, Andrea J. Smith and Kessea Van de Casteele. Great-grandmother of Rowdy Smith, Cash Smith, and Abigail DeGrand. Dear sister of the late Dorothy (the late Chuck) Richards, The late Lucille (the late Roy) Lovell, the late Francis (Rose) Knapp, and the late Gerald (Ruth) Knapp. Further survived by other relatives and friends.

Visitation Wednesday, December 18, 2019 at St. Matthew’s Catholic Church 9303 S. Chicago Road, Oak Creek, WI 53154 from 10:00 AM until time of the Funeral Mass at 11:00 AM. Interment Forest Hill Memorial Park, Oak Creek, WI.

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