Eva Petska

Eva V. Petska, 94, of Tomah, Wis., died Thursday, Nov. 19, 2009, at the Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center in La Crosse. She was born April 27, 1915, to James Burton and Eva (Fields) Christie.

She was united in marriage to Harry U. Balliett in 1935 in Augusta. He preceded her in death on Aug. 6, 1950. She then was united in marriage to Alfred J. Petska Jr. on May 8, 1954. He preceded her in death on April 16, 1986. Eva owned and operated the Balliett's Tavern in Cornell for many years. She worked for Douglas Aircraft in Illinois for many years before moving to the Tomah area.

Eva was a faithful member of the Gloria Dei Lutheran Church. She had a love for the outdoors, especially when she was hunting and fishing. She taught her children to hunt before she taught them how to cook. She was a loving and caring mother who acted as a home health care nurse for her daughter, Bev,

and took in many foster children that she raised

as her own.

She is survived by her children, Beverly Balliett, Darlene (Thomas) Petska, Donna (John) Berry, Alan Balliett, all of Tomah, and Sherry (Steven) Vlasak of Elroy; grandchildren, David (Lynda) Petska, Daniel (Jillian) Petska, John (Heidi) Berry, Christopher Berry, Michael Balliett, Adam and Nicole Vlasak; great-grandchildren, Danielle and Raymond Petska; step-grandchildren, Angie (Dan) Thoma, Jon (Sara), Jessica, Joshua, Niki Resop, Jonathan, and Cory Einwater; step-great-grandchildren, Joey and Ethan Resop, Amelia and Olivia; many other relatives and friends.

In addition to her husbands, she was preceded in death by her parents; grandson, Charles Morrell Jr.; sisters, Goldie, Sylvia, and Ottivie; and brothers, Patrick, Ernest, Ira, Roy and Arthur.

A funeral service was held on Monday, Nov. 23, 2009, 10:30 a.m. at the Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, 310 Elizabeth St. Pastor Pete Peterson and Pastor David Dahl officiated. Burial was at the Cornell Cemetery, Cornell, Wis. Relatives and friends were invited to call on Sunday from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m. at the Sonnenburg Family Funeral Home, 801 E. Monowau St., Tomah, and at the church on Monday from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the service.