Michael A. Marolla, 57, of West Bend, entered eternal life unexpectedly on Friday, June 3, 2016 at his home.
He was born on September 22, 1958, at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Beaver Dam the first child of Julius and Barbara Marolla. Mike spent his childhood in Horicon, where he was baptized and confirmed at St. Malachy Church.
He enjoyed playing Little League baseball, where he was an excellent second baseman, while batting over .400 several seasons. Mike attended St. Malachy grade school, and then attended Horicon High School, where he graduated in 1976.
He then attended Southwest Wisconsin Technical College in Fennimore, WI, where he learned his lifetime trade, meat cutting and sausage making.
Mike began his career at Paulus Foods in Cedarburg as a butcher. He then went to work as a sausage maker at the Bavarian Wurst Haus in Milwaukee. After that Mike worked in the meat department for Sendik’s Foods in Mequon, Grafton, and was working at the West Bend store at the time of his passing.
Mike met Sue Bretschneider in Newburg, where he was living at the time. Mike and Sue were married at St. Peter Immanuel Church in Brookfield on September 10, l988. In 1990, they moved from their apartment on Birch Avenue to their 1st house on Good Hope and 56th Street.
They had wonderful times there with family and friends having cookouts and fires in the fire pit in their backyard. Their first son, Dustin was born on July 26, 1993 and three years later Griffin was born on August 27, 1996. In August of 2005, they moved to West Bend to be closer to both families.
Over the years, Mike was on numerous bowling, pool and volleyball leagues. He enjoyed going to Opening Day Brewer Games with friends, attending concerts (especially his favorite band Kansas, who he had seen many, many times), golfing with family and friends, go karting, NASCAR, and mini golf.
Those Mike leaves behind to cherish his memory include his wife of 27 years, Sue; two sons, Dustin and Griffin Marolla both of West Bend; parents, Julius and Barbara Marolla of Horicon; three sisters, Catherine (Doug) Kuehl of Iron Ridge, Carla Schultz of Juneau and Janis (Dave ) DeCoster of Georgia; a brother, Dan (Lisa Christensen) Marolla of Beaver Dam; two sisters-in-law, Cheryl (Jesse) Garcia of West Bend and Kathleen (Ron) Kabitzke of Newburg, many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Mike was preceded in death by his parents-in-law, Karl and LaVera Bretschneider and two brothers-in-law, Jan Schultz and Jim Bretschneider.
A Funeral Service for Mike will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 9, 2016 at the Myrhum Patten Miller & Kietzer Funeral Home, 1315 W. Washington St. in West Bend.
The Marolla family will greet relatives and friends on Thursday from 4:00 p.m. until the time of services. Food and refreshments will be available during the visitation.
The Myrhum Patten Miller & Kietzer Funeral Homes have been entrusted with Michael’s arrangements. Additional information and online guestbook may be found at www.myrhum-patten.com.
Mike will be deeply missed by his wife, sons, family, friends and all those who knew him. Heaven has gained a new sausage maker in town.