Obit: Kowalczyk, Joseph Stephen #2 (1925 - 2011)

Contact: Dolores Mohr Kenyon

E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Kowalczyk, Pasyk, Cukla, Reckner, Wolfe, Bujak, Lencz, Duffy, Gonstead, Debold, Jenness, Naduvathaniyil

----Source: Thorp Courier (Thorp, Clark Co., WI.) February 2, 2011

Kowalczyk, Joseph Stephen (25 October 1925 - 25 January 2011) With flag

Joseph S. Kowalczyk, age 85, of Loyal, formerly of Gilman, died at St. Joseph’s Hospital, in Marshfield, on Tuesday, January 25, 2011. Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, January 29, 2011, at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church, in Loyal, with Rev. Jerome Naduvathaniyil officiating.  Pallbearers were: Eliot Kowalczyk, Jason Reckner, David Debold, Casey Cukla, Mike Gonstead and Rick Jenness.  Visitation was held at the church, on Saturday, from 10 a.m. until time of service.

Joseph Stephen Kowalczyk was born on October 25, 1925, on the family farm, rural Gilman, the son of John and Anna (Pasyk) Kowalczyk.  He was raised on the farm and received his education in the Gilman area, graduating from Gilman High School in 1944. After completing high school, Joe enlisted into the U. S. Army.  He was united in marriage to Caroline Cukla on October 11, 1952, at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church in Lublin.  Joe worked in Gilman for Romig’s Hardware, Plumbing & Heating for 19 years, and was the tax assessor for the Village of Gilman for 17 years.  In 1970, they moved to Loyal and Joe then worked at Midland Coop until 1975.  he started his own business, Kowalczyk Plumbing & Heating in 1975 and worked until 1990, when he semi-retired.  He continued to do plumbing & heating work until 2009.

Joe was a member of St. Anthony’s Catholic Church, a member of the Loyal American Legion Post #175 and a former member of the Gilman American Legion Post #359 for more than 60 years, and a member of the Catholic Order of Foresters.

He had many interests, but especially enjoyed collecting lunch boxes, making bird baths and bird houses, witching wells, a d in his earlier years, was very active in Pine Car Derby’s, where he was instrumental in getting the derby’s started; building many of the cars and tracks in the area.  Joe was a very creative person and could make anything.

He will be dearly missed by his wife, Caroline, of Loyal; his children: Susan Kowalczyk of Marshfield, Rodney Kowalczyk of Loyal, Robin Kowalczyk of Marshfield, and Laurie Kowalczyk of Loyal; three grandchildren: Jason Reckner, Josianne Reckner, and Eliot Kowalczyk (Rachel Wolfe); three sisters: Rose Bujak, of Homer Glen, IL, Mary (Frank) Lencz of Gilman, and Edna (Harold) Duffy of Milwaukee; two sisters-in-law: Helen Kowalczyk of Foreston, IL, and Zenita Kowalczyk of Altoona; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers: Alex "Cap" Kowalczyk and twin brothers, Gus and Frank Kowalczyk; and one sister, Sophie Gonstead.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.cuddiefh.com.

Cuddie Funeral home, of Loyal, assisted the family with arrangements.