Sharon Elaine (Strzok) Craker
Sharon Elaine (Strzok) Craker, 69, Cornell, passed away Sunday, March 31, 2024, at home, surrounded by family.
Sharon was born June 28, 1954, in Oak Park, Ill., to Theodore “Ted” and Louise “Lou” (Stokosa) Strzok, and was the oldest of seven children.
The young family moved to a farm south of Thorp, and eventually settled in Holcombe, where Sharon enrolled as a second grader at the Holcombe School, graduating with the Class of 1972.
She caught the eye of Lee Craker Jr., at Larry’s South Shore Resort in Holcombe, in 1970, and they married July 15, 1972, at Holy Cross Parish in Cornell. After a few years in Cornell, they chose the outskirts of town to build their country home for their family.
Lee and Sharon witnessed many sporting and music events over the years, for their children and grandchildren, which brought them immense pride and joy.
Sharon’s work ethic was instilled as a young girl at her family’s business – Ted & Lou’s. After marriage, she worked in clerical at the Cornell Paper Mill for several years, and in 2000, achieved an accounting degree at CVTC. Sharon’s employment years culminated at Heyde Companies and Dove Healthcare, with retirement in 2013.
However, she loved being a wife, homemaker, mom and a grandmother the very best.
Sharon embraced her Polish heritage, with her love of polka music and traditional Polish foods – pierogies and golumpkis. When the opportunity arose to travel to her ancestral Poland, in 2010, she invited Lee to accompany her on a trip of a lifetime, to a land from where all eight great-grandparents immigrated from.
Lee and Sharon also enjoyed travel to Hawaii, Florida, and many road trips across the U.S./Canada, anywhere from the East Coast to British Columbia, over the years.
Other interests were her love of hiking and skiing at Brunet Island State Park, kayaking, music, reading and flower gardening. Sharon felt honored to share her gardens in the 2017 Lake Holcombe Green Thumbs Garden Tour.
She is survived by her loving husband and best friend of 51 years – Lee, their two devoted sons – Eric (Molly) Craker, Mikana, and Steve (Terri) Craker, Cornell; their lovely daughter – Katie (Dan) Olsen, Inver Grove Heights, Minn.; sweet grandchildren – Sean and Maggie Craker, Parker Craker, Isabella (James) Acierto and Emily, Meredith and Hallie Olsen; the “greats” – Mateo and Raya Acierto; her caring siblings – Sid (Jill) Strzok, Monument, Colo., Tom (Sandy) Strzok, Holcombe, Sandy (Jack) Evans, Shell Knob, Mo., Laurie (Howard) Hennekens, Brian (Shawna) Strzok and Ted (Lori Craker) Strzok Jr. all of Holcombe; and many nieces; nephews; cousins; Lee’s siblings and dear friends.
She was preceded in death (and who provided a great influence in Sharon’s life) by her parents – Ted and Lou; grandparents – Louis and Lottie (Lewandowski) Stokosa, and Thomas and Mary (Moskiewicz) Strzok Sciezor; and her parents-in-law – Lee Sr. and Laurel (Hurlburt) Craker.
A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 2 p.m., Friday, April 5, at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church,with interment to follow at the St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery in Holcombe. A celebration of life gathering will follow at Eastbay Lodge banquet room, starting at 4 p.m.
Visitation will be held Thursday, April 4, at Borton-Leiser Funeral Home in Cornell, from 4-8 p.m., as well as one hour before mass.
The family wishes to extend a heartfelt thank you to St. Croix Hospice, family and friends, for all the care, love and support showered on Sharon during her final months.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.bortonleiserfuneralhome. com. Borton-Leiser Funeral Home in Cornell, is assisting the family.
