----Source: Wednesday, February 25, 2004, Tribune - Record - Gleaner

Nicholas Klapatauskas

Nicholas E. Klapatauskas, 56, Thorp, died at his home, from cancer, Feb.17, 2004. Funeral services were held at 10: 30 am.m. Friday, Feb. 20, 2004, at St. Bernard's - St. Hedwig's Catholic Church, Thorp. The Rev. John Puerner officiated. Burial was in St. Bernard's Catholic Cemetery.

Nicholas Edward Klapatauskas was born May 8, 1947, in rural Thorp, to Julius and Frieda (nee Cornwell) Klapatauskas. He attended Pineland Elementary and Thorp Elementary schools, graduating from Thorp High School in 1965. After graduating from Milwaukee School of Engineering, he worked in the engineering field in Philadelphia for about six months and then returned to his hometown of Thorp. In the spring of 1971, he met his future wife, Susan Patrick, and they were married at Holy Family Catholic Church, Willard, on April 15, 1972. He worked as a professional logger for 31 years, first in the state of Washington and then back in Wisconsin. He started his own successful business, Klapatauskas Forest Products, where he developed a reputation as a trustworthy, knowledgeable leader of the logging profession. He served as president of FISTA (Forest Industry Safety Training and Alliance, Inc.) for many years, working to improve the safety practices of loggers. As a member of the Wisconsin Professional Loggers Association, he was chairman of the Clark County Log a Load for Kids Project, sharing information about the benefits of logging with school children, as well as raising money for the Children's Miracle Network. He also received training with the state DNR as a member of the Forestry's Best Management Monitoring team, where he worked to evaluate logging sites to raise awareness of the environmental concerns of logging. He was an active member of the Thorp Lions Club, the Knights of Columbus, and St. Bernard's - St. Hedwig's Catholic Church, Thorp. His interests included hunting, both during the whitetail season in Wisconsin and in Montana, bowling, playing softball in his younger years, golf, woodworking projects, attending a variety of sporting events; and especially spending time with his family and friends.

Survivors include his wife, Susan, Thorp; four children, Todd (Kathleen) Klapatauskas, Dubuque, Iowa, Greg (Karla) Klapatauskas, Medford, Kelli (Tom) McGreevey, Appleton, and Kyle Klapatauskas, Thorp; four grandchildren, including Charlie and Abigail Klapatauskas, Dubuque, Iowa; his father, Julius Klapatauskas, Thorp; three brothers, Julius (Katie) Klapatauskas, Willard, Randy (Leann) Klapatauskas, Thorp, and Arlen Klapatauskas, Thorp; two sisters, Euncie (Ron) Hendrickson, Spencer, and Karen (Bob) Jordan, Indianapolis, Ind.; his mother-in-law, Jean Patrick, Mosinee; several aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, and many friends.

Preceding him in death were his mother, Frieda Klapatauskas; and his father-in-law, Ralph Patrick.

Thorp Funeral Home, Thorp, assisted the family with arrangements.