Willadean Tolka, 88, of Patoka passed away peacefully Monday, May 3, 2021 at Doctor’s Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Salem. Willadean was a loyal employee for Warren G. Murray Center, working as a cook for 20 years. She was an amazing wife, mother, and grandmother, always graciously putting the needs of her family before her own. Willadean was a faithful member of the Patoka Christian Church where she loved to worship and sing her favorite hymn, The Old Rugged Cross. She enjoyed her hobby of doll collecting and passed this passion down to her daughter, Vanessa. She had true talent in her fingers, excelling at crochet and sewing, and she liked sewing clothes for her dolls. The town of Patoka was blessed with her beautiful flower gardens and landscaping designs she created at her home. Willadean’s summer oasis of gorgeous blooms brought her much comfort and joy, and she worked diligently each day to remove weeds and keep her flower gardens pristine. She was an avid reader and journaled daily. She was a beautiful lady, kind-hearted, fun, and never afraid to speak up for what was right. Willadean will be deeply missed, but her memory will live on in each generation of her family.
Macz Funeral Home is privileged to be assisting the family of Willadean Tolka with arrangements. A celebration of life memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, May 8, 2021 at the Irvin Macz Funeral Home in Centralia with Pastor David Rogers officiating. An interment to lay to rest both Willadean and Hubert Tolka will follow at Hillcrest Memorial Park in Centralia, where military rites will be accorded for Hubert Tolka by Patoka American Legion Post #543. A visitation time to offer condolences to the family will be held from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service on Saturday at the funeral home in Centralia, where those in attendance will be asked to wear a mask and the number of people in the funeral home at one time will be limited. Memorials may be made in Willadean’s honor to the Patoka American Legion. Online condolences may be shared with the family by visiting www.maczfuneralhomes.com and/or on the funeral home’s Facebook page.
Survivors that will remember Willadean’s love for her family include her children, Danny Tolka of Vernon, Jerry Tolka and wife Sandy of California, Terry Tolka and wife Nina of Colorado, Brian Tolka and wife Jenny of Patoka, and Vanessa Marcum and husband Tim of Centralia; grandchildren, Melanie Bee and husband Greg, Michelle Stout and husband John, Kimberly Ryan and husband Blake, Levi Tolka and wife Jessie, Kyle Tolka and wife Sandra, Savanna Chapman and husband Tom, Christopher Tolka and wife Cheltse; 17 great-grandchildren; 1 great-great-grandchild; siblings, Dwayne Heinzman, and Ronnie Heinzman.
She was born on January 18, 1933 the daughter of Lawrence and Elvre Leta (Hicks) Heinzmann in Shattuc. She married Hubert Tolka on October 13, 1951 and he preceded her in death on January 7, 2017. Those there to greet Willadean and celebrate her homecoming to Heaven were her husband of 65 years, Hubert Tolka, her parents, Lawrence and Elvra Heinzmann; brother, Verlin Heinzmann; sisters, Annabelle Tolka, and Avodel Buchele; and half-sister, Eileen Kretzer.
