----Source: The Thorp Courier October 3, 2001

Alex Witkus

A funeral mass was held for Alex Florian "Cook/Cookie" Witkus, 67, at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, October 1, 2001, at Saint Pius X Catholic Church in Rochester, MN. The Rev. Tom Melvin officiated.

Alex Witkus of 3929 4th Place NW in Rochester, MN, died Thursday, September 27, 2001, at his residence following a lengthy illness with cancer.

Visitation was at the Ranfranz funeral Home, Rochester where a Parish Wake Service was held at 7:30 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. Visitation was at 9:30 a.m. also on Monday until the time of service at the church. Burial wa in Calvary Cemetery, Rochester.

Mr. Witkus was born May 4, 1934, in Stanley, WI, the son of Peter and Anna Witkus. He attended the public schools in Stanley. He married Gertrude Marek on January 15, 1955, in Junction, WI. They resided in Thorp, WI, and then moved to Aurora, MN, where he worked at the Taconite Plant and on road construction. He then farmed in Menomonie, WI, then moved to Rochester, MN in April 1961 and became employed at the Rochester Silo Company.

He is survived by his wife; Gertrude Witkus, of Rochester, MN; daughters: Dorothy Hoopman-Lentz and Ann Galbreath, both of Rochester, MN; sons: James and his wife Kathleen, Mark and Bruce, all of Rochester; five grandchildren, one great-grandson; sisters: Verna Koney of Thorp, WI, Vickie Rogalski and her husband Ray of Thorp, Leona Hazuga and Violet Bautch, both of South Milwaukee, WI. He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister.