Gladys Hritsko

Gladys Hritsko, age 90, of Ripon, passed away peacefully surrounded by her children, on Friday, July 23, 2010, at Riverside Medical Center in Waupaca.

Gladys was born in Princeton, WI, the daughter of Arthur and Rose (Tidy) Jolly on December 26, 1919. She grew up in the Green lake area and attended school in Green Lake, but graduated from Ripon High School. Gladys served her country after Pearl Harbor in the U.S. Army ASTC-Corp. where she was a technician 5th Grade, at Fort Leonard Wood, MO, from 1943 to 1946. Gladys married John Hritsko and was a member of Our Saviour’s United Church of Christ and the Guild in Ripon, along with the Pilgrim Rebekah Lodge #195 where she has held most offices.

Gladys “Sarge” Hritsko’s was employed at Rippin Foods, until the time of her husband’s death, and then ran the concession stands at the Ripon city parks. She was a member of Brown Parfitt Post #43, Ripon, and the first woman Post Commander. She belonged to the 20-4 (20 women & 4 Jeeps) the Outstanding Women Legionnaire Honorary Society, at the state and national level, and was the State Chaplin for 20-4. Gladys also belonged to the United Women Veterans (all veterans in the state of Wisconsin). She was past State Veterans Committee Woman; on the State Commission on aging in Fond du Lac County; Green Bay Area Agency; on the Commission of Veterans Affairs in Fond du Lac County; was the service officer for Post #43, and She spent 20 years on the staff of Badger Boys. Gladys was involved with the Ripon Santa Club for many years. In 1998, She was the first Riponfest Marshall, and received the Fond du Lac County Outstanding Senior Citizen Award, as well as the Outstanding 6th District Award, Along with several other community organizations.

Survivors include, three sons, Michael A. (Mary Lou) Hritsko of Neenah; Thomas H. (Chris) Hritsko of Dade City, FL; and Steve J. (Anna) Hritsko of Spring Hill, FL; one daughter, Mary E. Erickson (Bill) of Oshkosh; six grandchildren, Allison, Melinda, Nicki, John, Rachel and Riley; 4 great-grandchildren, Caroline, Emma, Jack and Brady; and one sister-in-law, Margaret Jolly of Ripon. Gladys was preceded in death by her parents, her husband John and one brother, Henry.

Visitation for Gladys Hritsko will be held on Monday, July 26, 2010, from 4:00-7:00 p.m. with an American Legion Brown-Parfitt Post #43 to follow at Butzin-Marchant Funeral Home, Ripon, and again on Tuesday, July 27, 2010, from 10:00-11:00 a.m. at Our Saviour’s United Church of Christ, 343 Scott St., Ripon.

Funeral Service for Gladys Hritsko will be held on Tuesday, July 27, 2010, at 11:00 a.m. at Our Saviour’s United Church of Christ, with Reverend Mark R. West officiating, full military honors to follow at the church. Private family Inurnment will take place on later date. A memorial is being established.

Butzin-Marchant Funeral Home, Ripon, is assisting the family.
www.butzinmarchant.com