Obit: Papierniak, Theodore "Ted" John (1921 - 2006)
Contact:  Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon

Surnames: Papierniak, Nieman, Wolowik, Okon, Mueller, Jacobs, Ostby, Marvin, Wink, Jankoski, Wyatt, Byce, Whitfield, Maier, Melby, Koslo, Jarocki

----Sources: The Thorp Courier (Thorp, Clark County, WI.) October 4, 2006

-Papierniak, Theodore "Ted" John (February 21, 1921 - September 28, 2006)

Theodore John (Ted) Papierniak, age 85 of Thorp, passed away on Thursday, September 29, 2006 at Our Lady of Victory Hospital in Stanley.

Funeral services were held on Monday, October 2, 2006 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Bernard-St. Hedwig Catholic Church in Thorp with Rev. Keith Apfelbeck officiating. Burial followed at Old St. Hedwig’s Catholic Cemetery. Ted’s grandsons served as pallbearers and his granddaughters served as honorary pallbearers. Visitation was held on Sunday, October 1, 2006 at the Thorp Funeral Home from 4 to 8 p.m. with a Rosary Service at 7 p.m.

Ted was born in Thorp, WI on February 21, 1921 to John and Josephine (Nieman) Papierniak. He attended St. Bernard’s Catholic School, Thorp Elementary and Thorp High School. After graduation he attended Wausau Business Institute and worked for his dad at Papierniak’s Department Store in Thorp before going to Virginia and California to work He enlisted in the U. S. Marine Corps during World War II, serving three years on the Philippine Island of Maui. After returning to Thorp, he married Helen Wolowik Okon at St. Hedwig’s Catholic Church on February 15, 1947. They farmed in rural Thorp until Ted started in the plumbing and heating business with Raleigh Fischer. In 1967, he bought his own plumbing shop, selling this to his son Jon in 1985. He was semi-retired and continued to work at the shop. He enjoyed wood-working, making everything from furniture to birdhouses for his children and grandchildren. He also enjoyed bowling and golfing.

He is survived by his wife, Helen and his children: Gail (David) Mueller of Tallahassee, FL, Jerily (Robert) Jacobs of Hudson, WI, Jon (Kerry) Papierniak of Thorp, Jeffrey (Barbara) Papierniak of Underwood, IA, and Brian Papierniak of Thorp. He was blessed with 15 grandchildren: Jason (Wendy) Ostby, Joshua (Sarah) Ostby, Julie (Joel) Marvin, Jesseka (Troy) Wink, Alex Jacobs, Jill Byce, Lucas, Adam, Megan, and Nicole Papierniak and Brandon (Crystal) and Jason Maier and 12 great-grandchildren: Brooklyn Ostby, Gave, Braden, Jagger, and Emmi Marvin, Cullen Wyatt, Sawyer Byce, Tysen and Jamesen Wink, Brittanie Whitfield, Ivy Ostby, and Collin Maier. He is further survived by his sisters: Joan (David) Melby, Carol (Wallace) Koslo, Katherine (Rich) Jarocki; his brother, Walter (Lorraine) Papierniak and his sister-in-law, Kay Papierniak.

He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Leon Papierniak.