Joy ‘Snooky’ Schlais

She was born Aug. 20, 1927, in Amberg, Wis., to Peter and Amy (Fraker) McTrusty, the youngest of six children. Her father contracted TB and died when she was a year and a half. He gave her the nickname “Snooky” and it stayed with her all through the years.

She lived in the Amberg area all of her early years and graduated from Amberg High School in 1945. On Dec. 28, 1946, she married Harold Schlais. They celebrated 61 years of marriage before his death on Jan. 7, 2008.

The couple had three children, Randy, Penny and Sherry. Snooky and Harold farmed in Pembine Township for approximately 10 years before Harold took a job with Interstate Welding Sales. The family moved to Marinette, Wis., for a year and then to Marquette, where they lived until 1989. When her children were a little older, Snooky entered the workforce. She worked as the financial secretary for Messiah Lutheran Church and then at Paine Webber before taking a job with the County of Marquette in the county clerk’s office. She served as deputy county clerk until her retirement in 1986.

In 1989, Snooky and Harold moved back to Pembine and lived there for 10 years before moving to an apartment in Kingsford. Snooky was a member of Grace Lutheran Church of Pembine, where she was a member of Senior Choir and Altar Guild. She was also a member of the Pembine Senior Citizens, American Legion Auxiliary 461 and was a 1st Armored Division Associate Member. She loved her family and spending time with them.

She and Harold loved to travel and made many trips throughout the country visiting friends and family along the way. She loved to bake and her delicious treats were always eagerly anticipated. She especially enjoyed her visits to the Island Casino with her dear friend and neighbor, Marge Bantle.

Snooky is survived by a son, Randy (Judy Gotz) of Rhinelander, Wis.; daughters Penny Streeter and Sherry Labbe of Marquette; four grandchildren, Joseph Schlais of Atlanta, Ga., Lisa Schlais of Lansing, Mich., Kristy (Matt) Godbout of Berlin, N.H., and Jeremy Labbe of Marquette; four stepgranddaughters, Marie (Will) Voskuhl, Alice (Chris) Wendt and LeeAnna Streeter of Marquette and Sarah (Chad Coughlin) of Ishpeming; 11 great-grandchildren, Layla and Laney Godbout, Logan (Rosemarie) Streeter, Aaron (Makenze) LaJoie, Emily (Chris) Sebeck, Sydney Voskuhl, Austin Wendt, Hannah Rosten, Ryan Voskuhl, Timothy Wendt and Phoebe Hendrickson; one great-great-granddaughter; and many nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Harold; her brother and sisters, Everette (Carol) McTrusty, Florence (Glen) French, Laverne “Curly” (Wayne) Nettleton, Serle (Robert) White and Elsie (Walter) Dooley; and brothers- and sisters-in-law, Elmer (Phine) Schlais, Clarence (Eunice) Schlais, Raymond Schlais, Ethel (George) Bierstaker and Evelyn (Don) McCorkle; and a son-in-law, Timothy Streeter.

Visitation will be Monday, July 7, at Grace Lutheran Church in Pembine from 10 a.m. until the time of her funeral service at 11 a.m. Pastor Gene Wickman is officiating. Burial will be in Pembine Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations are preferred for Grace Lutheran Church.

Roubal Funeral Home in Wausaukee is assisting her family with arrangements.