Violet M. Melaski

1929-2022

Violet M. Melaski, age 92, of Rib Lake, passed away quietly with loving family at her side on Thursday, May 26, 2022, at Rib Lake Health Services. A funeral and celebration of a life well lived will be held on Friday, June 3, at 11 a.m., at the Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Rib Lake. The family will receive friends for visitation from 9 a.m. until the time of services at 11 a.m. Burial with military honors will follow at the Lakeside Cemetery. A meal will be served at the church hall following the service.

Vi was born on June 5, 1929, in Pembine, to the late Henry and Isabel (Doctor) Schlais. She attended Stetsonville grade school and graduated from the Medford High School in 1946. From 1947 to 1950, she went to nurses training at Milwaukee County General Hospital and received her RN degree. Serving in the Army during the Korean War as a second lieutenant, she served in Kyoto Japan Army Hospital from 1951 until 1953. She later attended anesthesia school in Cincinnati, Ohio, and worked as a nurse anesthetist at the St. Luke’s Hospital in Milwaukee. Vi married Robert Melaski in 1958 and they were married 63 years and experienced a wide variety of jobs and travel, meeting family and friends all over the country. After her marriage in 1958, she worked at the Rib Lake Clinic for a short time. Vi and her husband, Bob, owned and operated the Schlais Clothing Store for 15 years. She was very involved in her community. Some of her activities include first responder/ EMT, school board member, an active 4-H leader, and a member of the Christian Mothers. Vi was always available to help anyone in need. Her “happy place” was in her vegetable garden and anyone who stopped in to visit enjoyed the benefits of her green thumb. Vi has definitely left a special imprint on the little town of Rib Lake and has made the world a better place in so many ways.

She is survived by her loving husband, Robert Melaski; her daughters, Mary (Bill) Niggemann, and Nancy (Wayne) Mann; her brother, Dennis (Cathy) Schlais; her grandchildren, Josh (Becky) Mann, Paula (Darin) Durst, Steve Mann, Jenna (Steve) Zenner, Michael (fiancé Leah) Mann, Nicole (Issac) Olson, Lisa Niggemann, and William (Lindsay) Niggemann; and her great-grandchildren, Shawna, Bryant, Danielle, Aubrey, Ezra, Andi, Zep, Korbi, Amelia, Ingrid, Liam, and Livia.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Henry and Isabelle; her stepmom, Bernica; and her siblings, Eugene Schlais and Bonnie Pernsteiner.

Generations Funeral Home & Crematory of Tomahawk, Wis., is assisting the family.

You may view Violet’s obituary and leave online condolences at generationsfuneral.com.

Paid Obituary 121627