Obiturary final draft

Deborah A. Sobczak, a loving and worrysome mother who feared that her children had a terrible disease whenever they were sick and who enjoyed crossword puzzles and dining out, died Saturday morning at Waukesha County Hospital. She was 52.

Sobczak was born in Milwaukee to Catherine and Edward Dubis. She grew up in Greendale where she attended school at St. Alphonsus Catholic School and Greendale High School. It was during her high school years when she developed a love of music, singing and playing the guitar. She participated in the drama club at school and came to land the leading female role in the musical "South Pacific" in which she belted out such numbers as "I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outta My Hair."

After high school she married her husband, Stephen L. Sobczak, who was from a neighboring town. They wed twice in 1971; the first time no one knew about, and the second time was celebrated with family and friends.

Her husband enlisted in the Army, and the couple spent the following months moving wherever he was stationed. First they lived in Shirley, Mass., but she stayed in the apartment most of the time because she was afraid of the drug dealers in the area. They then moved to Fort Gordon, Ga., where she had to spend some time in the military hospital due to a ruptured appendix. After that, Sobczak returned to Wisconsin while her husband went off to Korea.

Sobczak went to visit him in Korea during Christmas of 1972. She stayed there for four months. Her days were mostly spent with the other "army wives" on the base, because the men were gone all day. A daily ritual for the women was to walk to the post to take a shower. When she left Korea, she had a new view on other cultures and the world that she would share with her family.

When her husband returned, the couple moved from place to place within Wisconsin. Sobczak found a job in Milwaukee with First Wisconsin Bank where she spent over 29 years. She enjoyed living the "working girl" life, and colleagues agree that she was good at it.

In 1979 she moved with her husband to Mukwonago where together they built their house and raised a family. Later in life her family would hear her complain about living atop a big hill, especially during the winter.

Her following years were spent providing for her family. She began her first job at 8 a.m. and her second at 5 p.m. She juggled her career and her family remarkably well, although at times she did have a melt down. Even with such a busy schedule, she found time to shop and go to aerobics classes.

Her two daughters were raised as Christians, and she instilled in them the morals she had learned during her years at Catholic school. She sang with them and taught them some German. The family took many vacations to Disney World where many happy memories were made.

The year 1995 was a big turning point in her life. She had to spend some time in the hospital because a crippling disease she had been diagnosed with earlier took a turn for the worse. During this time Sobczak had to learn how to eat, write and walk again. Her spirits remained high and she came out a stronger person.

Another major event that strengthened her was the loss of her husband in 2002. She was the glue that held her family together, and she kept a level head even though she too was grieving.

Academics was important to her since she had not finished college, and she encouraged her daughters to continue with their education. She helped with money whenever she could no questions asked. Her daughters got advise, even when none was asked for. She often talked about college living and landlords according to what she had seen on the latest "Judge Judy" case. Sobczak was truly a caring and loving mother. Her children not only saw her as their mother, but also as a friend and confidant.

Sobczak is survived by her two daughters, Sarah Sobczak of Oshkosh, Wis., and Stephanie Sobczak of Whitewater, Wis.; her mother, Catherine Dubis of Franklin, Wis.; one sister, Karen Schaeffer of Eau Claire, Wis.; two brothers, Denis Dubis of Salem, Ore., and David Dubis of San Fransico, Calif; 11 nieces and six nephews. Her husband, Stephen, pre-deceased her.

Visitation will be held on Monday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Schmidt & Bartlet Funeral Home, 315 Main St., in Mukwonago. She will be buried at Mukwonago Cemetery.