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

Helen Kopacz

Helen J. Kopacz, 79, Thorp, died on Friday, Feb. 20, 2004, at the Clark County Health care Center, Owen. Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, Feb. 24, at St. Bernard's - St. Hedwig's Catholic Church, Thorp. The Rev. John Puerner officiated. Burial was in new St. Hedwig's Catholic Cemetery. Helen's grandsons were pallbearers.

Helen Juliana Kozial was born on March 2, 1924, in Sheldon, to Jacob and Apolonja (nee Wojcik) Kozial. She was raised on the family farm and educated in Tony, where she graduated from Tony High School. She married Matthew Kopacz on June 21, 1947, in Sheldon. They farmed and raised a family of five children. In 1961, they moved to the Greenwood area, where they owned and operated the Wildwood Tavern until 1977. She then worked part time at the Silver Dollar Bar as a bartender. They moved to Morgan Plaza, Thorp, in 2001, and resided there until entering the nursing home in December, 2003. She loved being around others and always had a pot of coffee on. She was a member of St. Bernard's - St. Hedwig's Catholic Church, was the fire warden for the Town of Reseburg for 25 years, and had many interests including sewing, reading, playing cards, and when she had the itch, she liked to go gamble.

She will be sadly missed by her husband, Matt Kopacz, Owen; five children, Barbara (Bill) Wernsman, Jacksonville, Ill., Patsy Foss (special friend Ken Larson), St. Paul, Minn., Kada (Wally) Baehr, Withee, Mike (Lori) Kopacz, Clear Lake, and Tersia (Ray) Gardner, Greenwood; 14 grandchildren, Jenny, Joseph, Jean, Kalani, Cammie, Kashia, Jason, Mike, Melissa, Jonathon, Joseph, Katie, Matheau, and Tessia; three great-grandchildren, Kayla, Ty, and Cody; four sisters, Francie Wjotinia, Conrath, Nellie (Dale) Kolar, Sheldon, Jeanette (Jerry) VanErt, Thorp, and Vicky Bergemann, St. Paul, Minn.; two brothers, Johnny (Virginia) Kozial, Sheldon, and Ed Kozial, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.

Preceding her in death were her parents; one sister, Anna Sterba; and two brothers, Joe and Frank Kozial.

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