Surviving is a brother Eddie Mares (Loretta) Olathe, KS, nephew Dean Mares Olathe, KS, niece Audrey Richmond (Jason) Mesquite, NV, nephew Bill Mares (Audrey) Naples, FL, nephew Doug Mares (Cris) Ashland, OR, niece Sherry Owens (Tom) Reno, NV, and nephew Mike Mares Beach Park, IL.
She was preceded in death by brother Jim Mares, brother Fred Mares (Louise) and brother Adolph Mares (Ann).
Adeline attended Fort Hays College in Hays Kansas. She chose to become a school teacher and taught for 39 years. While in Kansas she began teaching in a one room school Whitaker school in Osborne County. She also taught at Boswell school, Russell County Sellens creek school and also in the city of Russell Kansas.
Adeline moved to Lakewood Colorado in 1953, there she married John Wilkie who died in 1956. They had a daughter Jo Ann who was born in 1957 and died in 1985. In 1957 Adeline graduated from Denver University, she was also member of the NEA (National Education Association). Adeline married and divorced twice there after. In Lakewood she taught at Bancroft school and retired in ’84 from Dean elementary school.
Adeline was a member of the Mile High Czech Lodge #432 and helped with their annual Czech festival. She arranged trips to the Wilson, KS. annual Czech festival. She attended Czech festivals in Wilbur, NE. Yukon, OK and Ennis, TX. She also attended a Czech get togethers in Pittsburgh, Cedar Rapids, Milwaukee, Chicago and two events in Denver. Adeline is a member of the Polka Lovers Club of America. Over the years she attended Polka festivals in Grand Island Nebraska, Wichita Kansas, San Benito Texas. She went regularly to the Senior Center Dances, the Kickers Club and at Joyful on Sundays, where she practiced the “cowboy cha-cha” the “10 step polka” and loved the “black
hawk waltz”.
A great hobby after retirement was genealogy, she really enjoyed researching her ancestors. She took three trips to the Czech Republic in ’87, ’88 and ’90. There she discovered distant relatives, it was a highlight meeting them and continued to correspond with them. Genealogy also led Adeline to making two ancestral quilts on both sides of her family, Libal and Mares. They were placed in the Wilson Kansas Opera House Museum. Adeline organized two family reunions held in Wilson, Kansas. Her ancestors settled in Wilson from the Czech Republic in 1876. The first reunion was for the Libals and over 50 people attended. Four years later another reunion was for the Libal - Aksamit families and 120 people attended. They came from near and far.
Adeline, after retirement, liked to travel. She enjoyed trips to Washington, D.C., Hawaii two times and took cruises to the Caribbean, Alaska and Mexico. All three cruises had many special activities organized for Czechs, even Czech music on board. Adeline was a collector Teacher Bells and Moss Rose dishes. She enjoyed going to garage sales and flea markets, especially with her daughter Jo Ann and her friend Effie Root.
Adeline loved hearing from former students, she would receive Christmas cards at the holidays. She left a lasting impression as a teacher for many in her classes.
Adeline had amazing social skills, she entertained groups such as Czechs polka club officers, Dean elementary teachers, even cousins from Kansas. One group she really enjoyed was the Red Hatters. They wore red and purple at gatherings.
Annually, Adeline sent out Christmas in July, a lengthy letter to family and friends. It included photos with descriptions, current and past news. She continued this for many years.
Adeline will be laid to rest next to her daughter, JoAnn Stuart Geise, at Olinger Crown Hill Cemetery during a graveside service at 10:00am on Tuesday, March 9, 2021.
In Lieu of flowers donations may be made to: Dean Elementary School, 580 S. Harlan, Lakewood, CO. 80226 or
Veterans at Fitzsimons Hospital, Lee Wellbrock, 143 S Newland St., Lakewood, CO 80226
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