Amanda "Amy" Mary Wirkus (nee Boik)

Amy was born in Grenville, South Dakota on June 19, 1921 to Mary (nee Block) and Joseph Boik. She met the love of her life, Roman Wirkus, in South Dakota and the two were married on November 20, 1945. They moved to the Twin Cities after they graduated from high school. When Roman was enlisted in the United States military and sent overseas, Amy became one of the “Rosie the Riveter” gals and worked on the military airplanes. Eventually, she went to work in Chicago, Illinois at Sears, Roebuck and Company for the catalogue department and then transferred to Montgomery Ward on University Avenue in St. Paul. Amy and Roman had two children, Gary and Sharon, and they raised them on the eastside of St. Paul. The entire family was dedicated to Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church and could be found volunteering there all the time. They worked at the rummage sales, the spring festival, and any other event put on by the church. Amy was an excellent baker and was always making cakes or pies for the different sales. They had an apple tree in their backyard and she would make all kinds of baked goods with apples, pies, cookies, cakes, bars, anything that could be made with apples. Besides her apple desserts, she made the most amazing sugar cookies ever. Her husband, Roman, was a machinist so he would come home very hungry after a hard work day. This is how Amy became a great cook as he loved having hearty meat and potato comfort meals. She and Roman loved dancing, especially polka. One Christmas, Gary got the two of them a puppy named “Baby Rascal” and they loved having a dog around for all those years. In recent years, they sold their home and became some of the first residents of RealLife Co-op near Lake Phalen. Roman passed away in 2010 right after their 65th wedding anniversary. After he passed, Amy moved into the Woodbury Healthcare Center and lived there for over 5 years. The care and compassion she received there was appreciated by her family. Amy was a very sweet and loving woman whose personality and presence will be missed by all who knew her.

Amy passed away on Monday, September 19, 2016 at Woodwinds Hospital with Sharon and Brian by her side. She is preceded in death by her parents, Joseph and Mary Boik; her husband, Roman Wirkus; her five brothers, Les Boik, Tony Boik, Eddie Boik, Bill Boik, and Ted Boik; her son, Gary Wirkus; and her son-in-law, Dennis Schmitz. She will be dearly missed by her daughter, Sharon Schmitz of Oakdale; her grandsons, Brian (Carolyn LaViolette) Schmitz of Oakdale, and Kevin Schmitz of St. Paul Park; and her darling great-granddaughters, Winnie and Penny Schmitz; and other family and friends.

There will be a visitation for Amy on Tuesday, September 27, 2016 from 10:00AM until the 11:00AM Mass of Christian Burial at Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church, 1725 Kennard Street, Maplewood. Interment at Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis. Memorials are appreciated to Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church.