Phyllis J. Huelsbeck

January 7, 1928 — February 28, 2024

Appleton

Phyllis (Flanagan) Huelsbeck, age 96 of Appleton, passed away on February 28, 2024 at her residence. Phyllis was born in Appleton, WI on January 7, 1928 to the late Susana (Diedrick) and Raymond Flanagan.

Phyllis graduated from St. Mary’s Menasha High School and worked in the Personnel Division at Marathon Corp. in Menasha.

Phyllis married the love of her life, Richard Huelsbeck at St. Therese Catholic Church in Appleton on May 20, 1950. They became life-long parishioners there, with Phyllis playing an active role with the Ladies of St. Therese group.

Phyllis was an accomplished watercolor artist whose paintings adorned the walls of our family home. Long before the Internet and genealogy websites or DNA testing, she painstakingly researched our Flanagan and Huelsbeck family trees. As a regular letter writer and journaler, Phyllis’ near daily updates over the decades form an amazing family history.

An avid reader, Phyllis shared her love of books with many, even working at the Appleton Public Library for a few years. She also loved a rummage sale or thrift shopping outing, and anyone who visited with Phyllis was guaranteed to be offered a little chocolate from her refrigerated stash before they left.

A devoted daughter, sibling, wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and friend, Phyllis was greatly loved and will be missed by all. She is survived by daughter Julie (Karl Gieszl), Arizona; sons David (Barbara Schmieden), Washington State, Paul (Darlene), Hortonville, Mark (Paula), Kaukauna, Tom (Karin), Washington State, and Phil, Eau Claire; 9 grandchildren, Ben (Aly), Ethan, Aubrey (Keith) Rabideau, Claire (Josh) Weber, Quinn (Miranda), Owen (fiance Alexa Yarnell), Sophia, Chloe and Ryan; great grandchildren Awnya and Kavin Rabideau, and Eli Weber; in-laws Donna Flanagan, Mary Diestler, Kathryn Huelsbeck, Leo Huelsbeck, and John and Ruth Huelsbeck; and former daughter-in-law Julie Riehl in addition to many dear nieces and nephews.

Besides her parents, Phyllis was preceded in death by her brothers Floyd, Don and Jim, and sisters Delores Cook, Mary Pearl Cycmanick, and Eulail Byrne; in-laws Sam Cook, Bill Cycmanick and Bob Byrne, Valerie Flanagan, and Dot Flanagan; and nieces Diane Cook and Christine Byrne.

Visitation for Phyllis will be held at Wichmann Funeral Home, 537 N. Superior St., Appleton on Wednesday, March 6, 2024 from 5:00 - 7:00 PM. Her funeral mass will be celebrated at St. Therese Catholic Church, 213 E. Wisconsin Ave., Appleton, by Rev. Ryan Starks on Thursday, March 7, 2024 at 11:00 AM. Friends may call at the church 1 hr. Prior to mass. Interment will be at St. Nicholas Catholic Cemetery, Freedom, WI.

Phyllis asked to extend extra thanks to her sister Dolores’s kids for all the cards, letters, visits and calls.

The family would like to extend a special appreciation to the wonderful team with Moments Hospice. We are grateful for the incredible care and support they provided Phyllis and the entire family.

The family is particularly thankful for the care and community Phyllis found at the Appleton Retirement Community. Sit and Be Fit kept her active, sharing meals with friends engaged her, and nothing made her prouder than winning at Penny Bingo!

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Phyllis J. Huelsbeck, please visit our flower store.

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Service Schedule

Past Services

Mass

Thursday, March 7, 2024

11:00am - 12:00 pm (Central time)

St. Therese Catholic Church

213 E Wisconsin Ave, Appleton, WI 54911

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