Obituaries & Death Notices

Stevens Point Daily Journal - Stevens Point, Wisconsin - August 10, 1977
William J. Barker
 
William J. Barker, 76, Plainfield, died unexpectedly Tuesday at his home.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday at the Plainfield United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Edward Ketcham officiating, and burial will take place in the Plainfield Cemetery.
Friends may call at the Goult-Gasperic Funeral Home, Plainfield, from 6 to 9 this evening.
A memorial fund has been established in Mr. Barker's name.

Born Oct. 31, 1900, in the Town of Plainfield, Mr. Barker was a son of the late Jesse and Minnie Barker. He was a farmer, and lived in the Plainfield area all his life. His first wife, the former Gladys Caves, died in 1942. In 1947 he married Patricia Lange in Wisconsin Rapids. She survives. Also surviving are a son, Robert, and three grandchildren. Two sisters and a son preceded him in death.

Mr. Barker was a member and past master of the Plainfield Grange.

Stevens Point Daily Journal - Stevens Point, Wisconsin - August 16, 1977
Mrs. Mary T. Bates
 
Mrs. Mary T. Bates, 98, Plainfield, died at 9 p.m. Monday at Memorial Community Hospital in Wautoma, after a lingering illness.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at First Baptist Church, Plainfield, with the Rev. Ralph Deal officiating. Burial will be in the Plainfield Cemetery. Friends may call at the Goult-Gasperic Funeral Home, Plainfield, from 4 to 9 p.m. Wednesday.

Mrs. Bates was born June 6, 1879, in Wisconsin Rapids, a daughter of John and Leana Stainbrook. On Oct. 21, 1895, she was married to Lester Bates in the Town of Pine Grove and lived in Plainfield all her life. She was a housewife.
Survivors include a daughter, Mrs. Florence Butts, Plainfield; a son, Darrell, Plainfield, a sister, Daisy Fosgate, Waupaca; two grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and four great-greatgrandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, four brothers, four sisters and one daughter.

Stevens Point Daily Journal - Stevens Point, Wisconsin - August 26, 1977
Katherine C. Eastlinig
 
Katherine Clara Eastling, 83, Town of Oasis (Waushara County) died at home about 9:30 a.m. Thursday after a lingering illness.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Goult-Gasperic Funeral Home, Plainfield, with John Topping officiating. Burial will follow in the Plainfield Village Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday.
Mrs. Eastling was born May 9, 1894, in the Town of Oasis, a daughter of Paul and Katherine Beigel. She was a housewife and lived most of her life in the area, residing for one year in Nekoosa and eight years in Heafford Junction. In 1915 she married Bill Kehlmeyer in Plainfield and, after his death, she married Leon Eastling in Heafford Junction in 1922. He died in 1975.

Survivors include one son, Paul Eastling, Plainfield; two daughters, Mrs. Lavern (Lena) Bacon, Plainfield, and Mrs. Victor (Katherine) Amundson, Wisconsin Rapids; 17 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. Besides her husbands, she was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers and a sister.

Stevens Point Daily Journal - Stevens Point, Wisconsin - September 19, 1977
Mrs. Mary L. (DeWitt) Podvin
 
Mrs. Mary L. (DeWitt) Podvin, 86, formerly of Plainfield. died Sunday afternoon at Edgewater Haven Nursing Home, Port Edwards, following a long illness.

Funeral services will be held 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at St. Paul's Catholic Church, Plainfield. The Rev. Michael Bablitch will officiate. Burial will be in Plainfield Village Cemetery.

Friends may call after 4 p.m. Tuesday at the Goult-Gasperic Funeral Home, Plainfield. A prayer service will be held at 8:30 p.m.

Mrs. Podvin was born March 29, 1891, in Beatty, Pa., a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Mike Rodock. She lived in the Plainfield area 41 years and was a member of the Rosary and Altar Society of St. Paul's Church.

She married Otis DeWitt on April 17, 1911, in Pine Grove. Following his death, she married John Podvin Sr. on April 26, 1956, in Plainfield. He also preceded her in death. Survivors include two sons, Elmer DeWitt, Plainfield, and Marvin DeWitt, Nekoosa; one daughter, Mrs. John (Dollie) Petruska, Hancock: one sister, Mrs. Cathrine Cook, Wisconsin Rapids: two brothers, Joe Rodock, Milwaukee, and Steve, Wisconsin Rapids; nine grandchildren and three greatgrandchildren.
Five children, four sisters and three brothers preceded her in death.

Stevens Point Daily Journal - Stevens Point, Wisconsin - October 19, 1977
Mrs. lana Starks
 
Mrs. lana Starks, 89, a Plainfield native, died Monday afternoon at Columbus Community Hospital.

Funeral services will be held l pm Thursday at the Goult-Gasperic Funeral Home, Plainfield, where friends may call after 6 p.m. today. Burial will be in North Deerfieid Cemetery, Hancock.

Mrs. Starks was born Aug. 3, 1888, in Plainfield, a daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Ross Lamb. She lived in Plainfield all her life until moving to Columbus five years ago.
She married Ora Starks on Nov. 17, 1904, in Deerfield. He preceded her in death.

Survivors include four sons, Nelson, Waterloo, Ross, Phoenix. Ariz., Walter, Berlin, and Bert, Oshkosh: four daughters, Mrs. John (Velma) Borkenhagen, Beloit, Mrs. Edward (Metta) Bohn, Princeton, Mrs. Duane (Zita) Shippee, Oregon, Wis., and Mrs. Russell (Ilone) Clark, Mokena, Ill.; one brother, Ivan Lamb, in Maryland: 39 grandchildren, 55 great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren. Two brothers, three sisters, one son and two daughters preceded her in death.

Stevens Point Daily Journal - Stevens Point, Wisconsin - November 8, 1977
Mrs. Lavern (Lena) Bacon
 
Mrs. Lavern (Lena) Bacon, 53, Plainfield, died Monday morning at University Hospitals Madison, following a lingering illness.

Funeral services will be held 1 p m Thursday at the Goult Gaspenc Funeral Home, Plainfield where friends may call after 6 pm Wednesday. John Topping will officiate. Burial will be in Plainfield Cemetery.

Mrs. Bacon was born Jan. 11, 1924, in Jeffron, a daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Leon Eastling. She had lived in Plainfield since 1933. She married Lavern G. Bacon on Sept. 26, 1946, in Plainfield.

Survivors include her husband, one daughter, Mrs. David (Irene) Milovanovich, one brother, Paul Eastlng, Plainfield, and one half sister, Catherine Amenson, Wisconsin Rapids. One son preceded her in death.

Portage County Gazette - Stevens Point, Wisconsin - December 21, 2007 9p6)
Janette A. Fagan

Janette A. (Kurtzweil) Fagan, 46, West Allis, daughter of a Hancock woman, died Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2007, at Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital in Milwaukee.
 
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Leikness & Stahl Funeral Home in Plainfield. Burial will be in the Fish Lake Cemetery in the town of Deerfield in Waushara County.
 
Visitation will be at the funeral home from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday and again from 9:30 a.m. Saturday until the services.
 
A memorial has been established.
 
Condolences may be offered online at www.plainfieldfuneralhome.com.
 
Mrs. Fagan was born May 13, 1961, in Milwaukee, a daughter of Shirley (Bishop) Kurtzweil and the late Paul Kurtzweil.
 
She was married to Dennis R. Fagan on June 2, 1983, in Milwaukee.
 
Survivors include her husband; two daughters, Jessica and Joann Fagan, both of West Allis; two sons, Anthony and Adam, both of West Allis; her mother, Shirley Kurtzweil, Hancock; two brothers, Paul M. (Anita) Kurtzweil Jr. and Ralph A. "Randy" (Orea) Kurtzweil, both of Milwaukee; and three sisters, Kathleen K. Peterson, Wautoma, Donna J. (Jeff) Vetter, Berlin, and Debra J. (Barry) Talley, Plainfield.
 
She was also preceded in death by one sister, Sharon A. Capito.

Portage County Gazette - Stevens Point, Wisconsin - April 30, 2004 (p30)
Mary Louise Wanichek

Mary Louise Wanichek, 92, Bancroft, a longtime teacher in rural schools in Portage and Waushara counties, died Wednesday, April 21, 2004, at St. Michael's Hospital.
 
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Paul Catholic Church in Plainfield, with Msgr. Mark Schommer officiating. Burial will be in the parish cemetery.
 
Visitation will be at the church from 10 a.m. Saturday until the services.
 
A memorial has been established.
 
Leikness & Stahl Funeral Home in Plainfield is assisting the family with arrangements.
 
Mrs. Wanichek was born April 4, 1912, in Wild Rose, a daughter of the late Albert and Margaret (Plato) Kaminski.
 
She was married to Edward E. Wanichek in August 1941. He died in February 1970.
 
She was a rural schoolteacher in Portage and Waushara counties. She taught at the Almond Elementary School and Grant Elementary School in Kellner.
 
She was a member of St. Paul Catholic Church in Plainfield where she taught CCD.
 
Survivors include one daughter, Mary M. (Thomas) Sazama, Chippewa Falls; one son, Daniel E. (Barbara), Bancroft; one brother, Anthony Kaminski, Milwaukee; one sister, Loretta Merkt, Lincoln, Neb.; five grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
 
She was also preceded in death by one daughter, Nanette Hutnik; three brothers, Leo, Henry and Lawrence Kaminski; and one sister, Rose Magliocco.

Portage County Gazette - Stevens Point, Wisconsin - August 31, 2007 (p6)
Phyllis J. Jagielo

Phyllis J. Jagielo, 71, Waupaca, formerly of Almond and the widow of one of the founders of Two Lakes Restaurant in the town of Almond, died Sunday, Aug. 26, 2007, at Crystal River Nursing & Rehab Center in Waupaca.
 
A private family graveside service was held at St. Paul's Catholic Cemetery in Plainfield, with Deacon Bob Precourt officiating.
 
Hardell-Holly Funeral Home of Almond assisted the family with arrangements.
 
Mrs. Jagielo was born Dec. 3, 1935, in Stickney, Ill., a daughter of the late Joseph and Suzanna (Torde) Strobel.
 
She was married to Raymond R. Jagielo on Feb. 9, 1957, in Berwyn, Ill. He died on July 22, 2002.
 
She worked for more than 30 years at Two Lakes Restaurant with her husband.
 
She was a member of St. Paul Catholic Church in Plainfield.
 
Survivors include two daughters, Jennifer (Wayne) Cummings, Plainfield, and Julie (Wes) Cox, Hancock; two sons, Raymond "Mike" (Julie), Almond, and Jeff (Maggie), Wautoma; one brother, Donald Strobel, Claire, Mich.; nine grandchildren; and one great-granddaughter.
 
She was also preceded in death by sisters.

Portage County  Gazette - Stevens Point, Wisconsin - January 4,  2008
Harry R. Olkiewicz

Harry R. Olkiewicz, 93, Wild Rose, the former operator of Harry's Bar in Almond, died Wednesday, Dec. 26, 2007, at Wild Rose Community Memorial Hospital in Wild Rose.
 
A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Holly Funeral Home in Wild Rose, with the Rev. Paul Vanden Hogen presiding. Burial will be at St. Paul Catholic Cemetery in the town of Oasis in Waushara County.
 
Visitation will be at the funeral home from 9 a.m. Saturday until the service.
 
Condolences may be offered online at www.hollyfuneralhome.com.
 
Mr. Olkiewicz was born Nov. 26, 1914, in the town of Rose in Waushara County, a son of the late Frank and Anna (Wishinski) Olkiewicz.
 
He was married to Helen F. O'Keefe on April 23, 1938, in Almond. She died on Oct. 4, 2000.
 
He was the owner-operator of Harry's Bar in Almond for many years. He retired from the food service department at the Wisconsin Veterans Home in King.
 
Survivors include two daughters, Lucille (Richard) Koehler, Plainfield, and Alice (Donald) Payne, Oshkosh; six grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.
 
He was also preceded in death by six brothers, John, Bruno, Joseph, Charles, Edward and William; four sisters, Lillian Heft, Helen Mushinski, Stella Shields and Cecelia Lutz; and one granddaughter.

Portage County Gazette - Stevens Point, Wisconsin - August 1, 2008 (p32)
Mary Piyanowski

Mary Piyanowski, 92, Plainfield, died Monday, July 28, 2008, at Maple Ridge Memory Care in Plover. She was under the care of Ministry Home Care-Hospice Services.
 
Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at Leikness & Stahl Funeral Home in Plainfield. Private family inurnment will be in the Hancock Cemetery.
 
Visitation will be at the funeral home from 10 a.m. Friday until the services.
 
A memorial has been established in lieu of flowers.
 
Condolences may be offered online at www.plainfieldfuneralhome.com.
 
Mrs. Piyanowski was born Sept. 20, 1915, in Gary, Ind., a daughter of the late Michael and Anna (Adams) Piatak.
 
She was married to Henry Piyanowski on Feb. 2, 1936. He died on March 1, 1976.
 
She was a member of St. Paul Catholic Church in Plainfield and its Ladies Society and Mission Team.
 
Survivors include seven nieces, Sandra (Robert) Sullivan, Rhinelander, Ellen (Francis) Ramczyk, Hancock, Linda (Douglas) Meddaugh, Bancroft, Andrea (David) Apps, Wild Rose, Lisa (Michael) Bauer, Wauwatosa, Leslie (Dennis) Drag, Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif., and Christine (John) Lysaught, Warren, Mich.; and numerous grandnieces and grandnephews.
 
She was also preceded in death by four brothers, Mike, Joe, Andy and Toney Piatak; and two sisters, Anna Anthoney and Margaret Biro.

Portage County Gazette - Stevens Point, Wisconsin - October 12,  2007 (p29)
Forrest O. W. Schmudlach

Forrest Oliver William Schmudlach, 86, rural Hancock, died Saturday, Oct. 6, 2007, at the Wild Rose Manor from complications of a farm accident on Aug, 29, 2007, that resulted in a broken leg and later problems with pneumonia and other serious lung complications.
 
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Leikness & Stahl Funeral Home in Plainfield, with the Rev. Bill Dow officiating. Inurnment with full military honors will be held at Hancock Village Cemetery.
 
Visitation will be at the funeral home from noon Wednesday until the services.
 
Mr. Schmudlach was born Sept. 1, 1921, on the family farm in the town of Richford in Waushara County, a son of the late William A. and Esther (Daye) Schmudlach. He attended schools at nearby Forest City in the town of Richford, one year at Hancock High School and graduated in 1940 from Coloma High School.
 
He served in the United States Army from 1945 to 1946.
 
He was married to Anona Wetmore on Oct. 16, 1948, at the Hancock Community Church.
 
The couple settled on the Schmudlach family farm.
 
He farmed, worked for Strey Construction in Oshkosh and other road construction companies for many years, and helped pick beans during harvest time for the Green Giant Company.
 
His hobbies included antiques, antique machinery, tractors and cars and he was involved in the Tri-County Threshermen's Club.
 
Survivors include his wife; one son, William F. (Mary Jane), Hancock; two grandsons; and five great-grandchildren.
 
He was also preceded in death by one sister, Bonnie Malisch.

Portage County Gazette - Stevens Point, Wisconsin - February 29,2008 (p6)
Boyd D. Gustin
 
Boyd D. Gustin, 84, Wautoma, the brother of a Plover man, died Thursday, Feb. 21, 2008, at the Wisconsin Veterans Home in King.
 
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday at Grace United Methodist Church in Wautoma, with the Rev. George J. Kafer officiating. Burial with full military honors will be in the spring at Wautoma Union Cemetery.
 
Visitation will be at the church from 1 p.m. Sunday until the services.
 
Leikness Funeral Home in Wautoma assisted the family with arrangements. Condolences may be offered online at www.wautomafuneralhome.com.
 
Mr. Gustin was born Feb. 19, 1924, in Oshkosh, a son of the late Royden and Ruth (Vroman) Gustin.
 
He was married to Ruth C. Harmon on June 17, 1950, in Wautoma. She died March 28, 1995.
 
He served in the U.S. Navy from 1945 to 1947. He was in the Naval Reserve from 1970 until his retirement in 1988.
 
He was employed for 40 years as a millwright at Great Northern Paper Co. in Nekoosa. He also farmed for many years in the town of Deerfield in Waushara County.
 
He was a member of Grace United Methodist Church in Wautoma.
 
Survivors include three sons, Michael D. (Diane), Hancock, Daniel L. (Bonny), Neshkoro, and Larry D. (Kerry), Oshkosh; two daughters, Cynthia R. (Brad) Grenier and Lisa R. (Jim) Vezina, both of Wautoma; one sister, Jean (John "Jack") Welden, Shawano; two brothers, Raymond (Margaret "Pete") Gustin, Plover, and Emmett (Debbie) Gustin, Hancock; 11 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
 
He was also preceded in death by two grandchildren.

Portage County Gazette - Stevens Point, Wisconsin - March 28, 2008 (p6)
John Ben Jazdzewski

John Ben Jazdzewski, 93, a Plainfield native and former Almond area resident, died Wednesday, March 19, 2008, in Lake City, Fla.
 
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, March 28, at St. Mark Catholic Church in Redgranite, with the Rev. Anthony Klink and Karen Nesbit, parish director, presiding. Burial will be in St. Mark Parish Cemetery in Redgranite.
 
Visitation will be at the Ruminski Funeral Home in Redgranite from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday, March 27, and at the church from 10 a.m. Friday, March 28, until the Mass.
 
Mr. Jazdzewski was born Feb. 22, 1915, in Plainfield, a son of the late Frank and Otillia (Dombrowski) Jazdzewski.
 
He was married to Margaret M. Sobieski on June 1, 1946, at St. Mark Catholic Church in Redgranite.
 
He was retired from the Berlin Foundry and also from farming in Almond and the town of Spring Lake in Waushara County.
 
He was a member of the Berlin Chapman Old Timers' Club.
 
Survivors include his wife; one daughter, Patricia Murphy; three sons, John (Sue), Tom (Lenore) and Dan (Sandy) Jazdzewski; one brother, Ed (Mary) Jazdzewski; three sisters, Mary Raatz, Frances Wedde and Ann Mineau; 11 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.
 
He was also preceded in death by one daughter, Jean; two brothers; five sisters; and one granddaughter.

Portage County Gazette - Stevens Point, Wisconsin - August 1. 2008 (p6)
Albert A. Edgren

Albert A. Edgren, 76, Wild Rose, a Wild Rose building contractor and the father of an Almond man, died Wednesday, July 23, 2008, at the Veterans Hospital in Madison.
 
A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at Wild Rose United Methodist Church in Wild Rose, with the Rev. Yul Kwon officiating. Interment will be in the Wild Rose Union Cemetery in the town of Wautoma in Waushara County.
 
Visitation will be at the church from noon Saturday until the service.
 
A memorial has been established.
 
The Holly Funeral Home in Wild Rose assisted the family with arrangements. Condolences may be offered online at www.hollyfuneralhome.com.
 
Mr. Edgren was born Aug. 13, 1931, in Goodman, a son of the late George and Martha (Zechel) Edgren. He graduated from Berlin High School in 1950 with his twin brother, Robert.
 
He served in the United States Air Force from January 1951 until March 1955 during the Korean War.
 
He was married to Dixie Merryfield on May 5, 1956, in Madison.
 
He was a retired member of the Carpenter Local 314. He worked for Findorff Builders of Madison, Marshall Erdman Builders of Madison and Gilbert Builders of Madison. He was a partner of Edgren Brothers Construction of Wild Rose.
 
Survivors include his wife; four sons, David (Lori), Gwinn, Mich., Wayne (Vicki), De Forest, Kenneth (Patti), Almond, and James (Elaine), Madison; two daughters, Karen Hughes, Blanchardville, and Jean (Keith) Haerle, Brooklyn; three brothers, George (Irene) Jr., Wild Rose, Gerald (Nancy), Plainfield, and Rodger (Pat), Marshall; three sisters, Joan (Bill) Kalrath, Fall River, Betty Ann (Phil) Ingwell, Sun Prairie, and Nancy (John) Hillard, Madison; and 18 grandchildren.
 
He was also preceded in death by three sisters, Virginia and Marjorie Edgren and Loretta Lentz-Engel; and his twin brother, Robert.

Copyright © 2018 Paula Vaughan