Pearl Jane Tatosky

Pearl was born on Jan. 30, 1930, in Green Bay, Wis., to the late Edward and Clara Hazaert. She attended schools in Green Bay and graduated from West High School.

Pearl married the late James R. Tatosky on July 9, 1951, in Green Bay. They shared almost 68 years of love while raising three children. During those years, they shared their love of the outdoors through camping, fishing, hunting and living in the north woods the last 45 years.

Pearl worked at Wisconsin Public Service before marriage. Once married, Pearl was a stay at home mom, raising her three children, and volunteering at church, and schools. After the children were older, she worked as a bookkeeper for LeMieux and Son. In 1975, they moved up north and Pearl went to work for Florence County as a bookkeeper retiring in 1995. They then moved to Crystal Falls to be closer to their son Tim and live on a lake.

Pearl’s passions included gardening, especially geraniums and Christmas cacti, knitting sweaters, mittens, and afghans for family, grandchildren and the Kosovo Children’s Relief project which her daughter, Major Cynthia Hermsen assisted with.

It is said that the best thing to spend on children is time and Pearl always had time to spend on her four grandchildren. They all had fond memories of her baking cookies and they ate as much chocolate chip cookie dough as was baked. In sharing their memories of great times with Gram: Christopher learned the love of Christmas, going out for a special treat to Dina Mia’s for pizza and quality time shopping with her in Iron Mountain. Jessica learned the art of canning jam, loved the knitted slippers she made and the loving way Gram called her Jessie. Jeremy loved her “crow’s feet” eyes from her happy life, the shuffling sound of her slippers and of course her “HOUSECOAT.” Matt loved conversations with Gram on the swing by the lake, paddle boating, and their special teatime with cookies. All of the grandkids loved playing cribbage and gin with her and enjoying her heightened competitive spirit against her husband Jim who always kiddingly said “she cheats” whenever he lost.

A special joy for Pearl and her grandchildren was when they introduced her to her great-grandchildren. She loved holding them and sharing memories of their parents when they were younger.

A lasting memory for all of us is seeing Mom and Dad watching the world from the front porch content in the warmth of a new day’s sun and each other.

Pearl was a devote Lutheran and a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Florence for the past 45 years. She was an optimistic throughout her life. Even during Jim’s many surgeries, her faith kept her unbending in the wind and a constant source of strength for her family. Always supportive of everyone’s hopes and dreams, she said if you worked hard and prayed to the Lord, all things come true.

Pearl is survived by her son, Tim (Linda) Tatosky of Crystal Falls; daughters, Major Cynthia Hermsen of Crystal Falls, and Susan (Jeff) Holz of Sherwood, Wis.; grandchildren, Christopher (Saori) Cuciti of Hillsboro, Ore., Jessica (Phillip) Johnson of Larsen, Wis., Jeremy (Emily) Holz of Sherwood, Wis., and Matthew Tatosky of Ann Arbor, Mich. Great-grandchildren are Greyleigh, Coraline, Porter, Castile, and David.  

Pearl is also survived by her brothers, Harold (Jan) Hazaert, Carl (Helen) Hazaert; a sister, Carol “Dolly” (Atlee) Schmidtke; and sisters-in-laws, Joan (Carlton) Bingham and Patricia (Robert) Dunning.

Pearl was preceded in death by her loving husband and life partner, James Tatosky. Also preceding her in death were her parents, Edward and Clara Hazaert; in-laws, Emmet and Clara Tatosky; son-in-law, Russell Hermsen; brothers- and sister-in-laws, Herbert and Elaine Hazaert, and George and Vera Hazaert.

In 2000, Pearl was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. She managed it until 2018 when her Parkinson’s and arthritis became too much for her handle. She then moved to the Iron County Medical Care Facility. Donations can be made in Pearl’s honor to the Parkinson’s Association

The family would like to especially thank Dr. Robert Han, NP. Jill Nocerini, Dr. Patty Peterson, the nurses, aides, and staff at the Iron County Medical Care Facility for their loving support, respect and care for our mother. She (we) truly appreciated all of you.

In accordance with Pearl’s wishes, private family services will be held.

You may leave a condolence or tribute for Pearl’s family online at www.JacobsFuneralHomes.com.

The family has chosen the Jacobs-Plowe Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Crystal Falls to honor Pearl’s legacy of life.