Obit: Gabrys, Alex Joseph #2 (1918 - 2006)

Contact:  Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon

Surnames: Gabrys, Kowalczyk, Olejniczak, Zaborowski, Rogers, Casper, Szemraj, Curcio

----Sources: Thorp Courier (Thorp, WI) August 9, 2006

Gabrys, Alex Joseph (July 13, 1918 - August 4, 2006)

Alex J. Gabrys, age 88, of Thorp, formerly of Gilman, died on Friday, August 4, 2006 at Oakbrook Health & Rehab in Thorp.

Funeral services were held at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 8, 2006 at St. Bernard-St. Hedwig Catholic Church in Thorp. Fr. Keith Apfelbeck officiated and burial followed in New St. Hedwig’s Catholic Cemetery.

Pallbearers were Ron Gabrys, Neal Gabrys, Bruce Gabrys, Dennis Gabrys, John Curcio and Chuck Zaborowski. Visitation was held at Thorp Funeral Home on Monday, August 7, 2006 from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. with a 6:00 p.m. Rosary service and at church on Tuesday, from 1:00 p.m. until time of service.

Alex Joseph Gabrys was born on July 13, 1918 in Lublin, WI to Bartholomew and Anna (Kowalczyk) Gabrys. He was raised on the family farm and educated in the Lublin area, and completed his GED at the age of 60. After completing his schooling, Alex worked as a logger and out west in the harvest fields. He was inducted into the U. S. Army on June 16, 1941. Alex served in the European Theater where he was a tank commander and was twice awarded the Purple Heart Medal. He was honorably discharged on September 28, 1945. He moved to Chicago and was employed at Ecko’s. Alex was united in marriage to Josephine Olejniczak on June 27, 1948 in Chicago. They moved to Gilman in 1951, where he farmed and drove mail truck until retiring in 1980. He also helped in clearing the land for the Chequamegon Flowage. After retiring, he sold real estate for a few years. He resided in Gilman until moving to Thorp in the 1990’s.

He was a member of St. Bernard-St. Hedwig Catholic Church in Thorp, and previously was a member of Ss. Peter & Paul Catholic church in Gilman for many years. Alex also served as chairman for the Town of Ford and was an active member of the Republican Party. He had many interests, but especially enjoyed politics, reading and his hobby farm.

He will be sadly missed by his wife of 58 years, Josephine of Thorp; four children: Margie Gabrys of Eau Claire, Leonard Gabrys of Balko, OK, Bob Gabrys of Gilman, WI and Bruce (Theresa) Gabrys of Eagle River, AK; five grandchildren; Ann, Neal, Johanna, Stephanie and Paul Gabrys; four sisters; Kay Gabrys of Kirksville, MO, Mary Zaborowski of Gilman, Lottie Rogers of Dwyer, IN and Ann (Harold) Casper of Kirksville, MO and two brothers: John Gabrys of Manhattan, IL and Stanley Gabrys of Milwaukee and nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one daughter, Ann, in infancy; two sisters: Lucille Gabrys and Regina ‘Vic" Szemraj and one brother, Frank Gabrys.