Olga "Dolly" (Letko) Stecker

Olga “Dolly” Stecker

(née Letko) of Germantown passed away peacefully at her home on Monday, October 6, 2025, at the age of 98, surrounded by her loving family. God called her home after a long, full life marked by love, devotion, and grace.

Beloved mother of Nancy Hoeck and devoted and loving grandma of her three sons Bradley (Lisa), Anthony, and Jeremy. Supportive great-grandma, “Babicka”, of Bret (Tony's son), Riana, Juliana, and Carissa (Brad and Lisa’s daughters).

Cherished mom of Lori Stecker and proud and loving grandma of her daughters, Cassandra and Alexandra.

Also survived by her sister-in-law, Marlea Lenchek (née Stecker), nieces, nephew, relatives in Slovakia, great-nieces and nephews, and dear friends. Preceded in death by her husband Walter "Wally" E. Stecker, her parents, Paul and Julia Letko (née Tichak), sister, Lydia, and many relatives and dear friends.

Dolly was born in Milwaukee on September 22, 1927. She spoke Slovak fluently with her parents who emigrated from Slovakia. She attended St. Michael Catholic Grade School, where she learned to speak English and later graduated from Washington High School. Dolly attended business college and was a secretary when she was first married. She was a homemaker when her daughters were growing up, but started working again as a secretary at Milwaukee Public Schools when her daughters were in middle school.

Dolly married the love of her life, Wally, on April 15, 1950, at St. Stephen Martyr Catholic Church and were happily married for 55 amazing years. Dolly and Wally spent their life together centered on God, their church, and their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

Dolly was a woman of remarkable talent and creativity. An accomplished seamstress, she lovingly sewed many of her daughters’ clothes, every dance recital costume, and homecoming and prom dresses over the years. She was also proud to have sewn the very first traditional attire for her daughters who danced for the Tatra Slovak Dancers, sharing her heritage and craftsmanship with the community. Her hands were rarely still and the garments she made were stitched not just with thread, but with deep care and devotion.

Dolly was very active in her church and community. As a dedicated Girl Scout leader, Dolly loved all of her “girl scouts”. Dolly belonged to Christian Mothers, was Home and School Vice-President, and a member of the Wisconsin Slovak Historical Society. Her parents started the tradition of becoming lifetime members of the Slovak Catholic Sokol Wreath 93, by enrolling Dolly, and then Nancy and Lori at birth. Dolly and Wally continued the tradition by enrolling their grandchildren and great-grandchildren, which is proudly five generations strong in their family and ongoing. Olga always held her Slovak heritage close to her heart and kept it alive by carrying on many Slovak traditions with her family. She loved to cook and passed on many traditional Slovak recipes to her daughters.

Dolly loved to play cards and solve crossword puzzles. Her love of playing cards carried on throughout her entire life. Dolly and her life-long friends from grade school and high-school started a card club that later included their husbands. The every other week and then monthly gatherings were filled with fun and friendship and became a beloved ritual that lasted for many years. The husbands became good friends as well and the club had summer picnics with their entire families and a “round robin” New Year’s Eve celebration every year. The card playing continued with Dolly’s grandchildren and great-grandchildren where many games of cribbage and Uno were played and she typically won!

Dolly was a supportive cheerleader at her daughters’ and grandchildren's school and sporting events, including attending every one of her daughters’ Sokol competitions known as “Slets.” She treasured the time with her cherished grandchildren, Brad, Tony, Jeremy, Cassi, and Lexi, on weekend sleepovers, weekday suppers, family gatherings, and regular visits. Dolly was retired when Lori’s daughters were born so, along with Wally, she provided full-time child care for Cassi and Lexi from their birth on, which included driving them to and/or from Catholic grade school. She thoroughly enjoyed creating countless memories at their “Up North” cottage on Summit Lake each summer. This started when her daughters were teenagers, continued with her grandchildren, and the memories kept growing with her great-grandchildren all the way through this past summer. Dolly’s sacrifice of time and devotion to provide for and take care of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren will always be a cherished memory of her entire family.

Our heartfelt thanks go to all her friends who kept in contact with her over the years, to Angela Michor, APNP, who was Dolly’s primary physician for many years, the many physicians who regularly treated Dolly throughout the years, and all the healthcare workers who treated her with love, care, patience, and respect.

With deep sadness and loving remembrance, we will miss Dolly, but we take comfort in our faith that we will be reunited in eternal happiness.

To our dear Mom, Grandma, Great-Grandma “Babicka”: You have been the matriarch of our family, its strength and unceasing love. We will love and miss you forever, but we will always carry your love and memory in our hearts. Until we are all together again - “Dovidenia!”

Visitation will be held for Dolly on Thursday, November 6, 2025, from 3:30pm until 7:00pm with a prayer service and eulogy from 5:30pm to 6:00pm, all at Jelacic Funeral Home, Inc., 5639 West Hampton Avenue, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53218. Additional visitation will be held for Dolly on Friday, November 7, 2025, from 10:00am until the time when eulogies will be shared at 11:00am, followed by the Mass of Christian Burial at 11:30am, all at Blessed Savior Catholic Church, 8545 West Villard Avenue, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53225. Interment to follow at Holy Cross Cemetery, 7301 West Nash Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53216.

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