Passed away peacefully with her family at her side Wednesday, February 1, 2017 at St. Anne’s Extended Healthcare in Winona, Minnesota.
Adeline was born on June 2, 1933, the oldest daughter of Louis P. Sopa and Lillian H. Sopa nee Konkol, in rural Amherst, Wisconsin. She later moved with her family to a farm in rural Almond, Wisconsin where she grew up.
Adeline is survived by her sisters, Theresa V. McCamley, Joan Marchiando (Richard), Caroline Kostroski (Ralph), and Catherine Rhutasel (Kim). She is also survived by her nieces and nephews; Maureen, Patrick, Mary, John, Julie, Laura, Jennifer, and Anna along with their families.
She was preceded in death by her parents, maternal and paternal grandparents, a sister Germaine, and a brother-in-law, Peter.
Adeline attended Sunnyside School, a one room school just 500 feet from her home, graduating in 1947. She attended Almond High School graduating in 1951. After working several years at Hardware Mutual Insurance Company/Sentry in Stevens Point Wisconsin, she decided to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in teaching. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point with study focused on biology, physical education and history. She later earned a Master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin, Madison.
Adeline taught physical education at schools in Berlin and Muskego, Wisconsin before moving to Green Bay in 1966 where she taught in the Green Bay School District until her retirement in June of 1988.
Adeline had many loves and passions. Among them in no particular order, were faith, family, friends, Green Bay Packers, Milwaukee Brewers, travel, learning, genealogy research, the preservation of Polish culture and skiing. She gave every project and effort 150%.
She was active in the Wisconsin Education Association, the Polish Museum of Winona, MN, and the Polish Heritage Awareness Society of Stevens Point, Wisconsin.
After Adeline’s retirement she devoted her time and energy to extensive research and writing related to her family genealogy work, publishing two books on the Sopa and Konkol families.
In 2008, when her health had declined due to Parkinson’s disease, she moved to Fountain City, Wisconsin to live with her sister. In 2011 she moved to St. Anne’s Extended Healthcare in Winona.
Services will be held on Monday, February 6, 2017 at 11 a.m. at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic Church (Fancher) in rural Amherst, Wisconsin. Father Daniel Hackel will be officiating.
Visitation will be held from 9 a.m. until the service begins. Burial will follow in the parish cemetery.
The family would like to thank the staff of St. Anne’s of Winona and the doctors at Winona Health for their care and support as well as many friends for their comfort and support.
Memorials can be directed to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s disease research, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic Church cemetery maintenance fund, the Polish Cultural Institute of Winona, Inc., or the Polish Heritage Awareness Society in Stevens Point.