Obit: Kaczmarek, Leon Louis #2 (1914 - 2005)
Contact:  Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon

Surnames: Kaczmarek, Wysowski, Kinas, Teclaw, Shewczyk

----Sources: Thorp Courier (Thorp, Clark County, WI.) July 6, 2005

Kaczmarek, Leon Louis (March 22, 1914 - July 1, 2005)

Leon L. Kaczmarek, age 91, of Thorp, died at Oakbrook Health and Rehab, in Thorp, on Friday, July 1, 2005.

Funeral services were held at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, July 5, 2005 at St. Bernard-St. Hedwig’s Catholic Church in Thorp. Rev. Keith Apfelbeck officiated and burial followed in New St. Hedwig’s Catholic Cemetery. Visitation was held at St. Bernard-St. Hedwig’s Catholic Church on Monday, July 4, 2005 from 4:00 until 8:00 p.m. with a 7:00 p.m. Rosary service, and at church, on Tuesday from 9:00 a.m. until time of service.

Leon Louis Kaczmarek was born on March 22, 1914, in Lublin, WI, the son of Albert and Magdalene (Wysowski) Kaczmarek. He was raised and educated in the Lublin area, and after completing his education, Leon moved to Chicago to work. Leon was drafted into the U. S. Army on April 20, 1943 and served until his honorable discharge on December 1, 1945. He returned to Thorp and worked at the Club 73 Supper Club, which his sister, Pearl Kinas and her husband Frank, owned and operated. In April of 1948, Leon bought a tavern in Thorp, and shortly after, he was united in marriage to Lillian Teclaw on September1, 1948 at St. Hedwig’s Catholic Church. They named their establishment "Leon and Lil’s" and operated the tavern for 52 years until his retirement on July 1, 2000. He continued to reside in Thorp until the time of his death.

Leon had many interests, but especially enjoyed Chicago Cubs baseball, hunting, fishing, and was a big supporter of the Thorp community. He was a member of St. Bernard-St. Hedwig’s Catholic Church, a 60-year member of the Thorp American Legion and a former member of the Wisconsin Tavern League for many years.

He will be sadly missed by his wife, Lil, of Thorp; one sister Helen Shewczyk of Stanley; two sisters-in-law: Frances Kaczmarek of Chicago and Ann Kaczmarek of Lublin; nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; four brothers: Frank, Zigmund, Stanley and Theodore; and one sister Pearl Kinas.

Thorp Funeral Home assisted the family with arrangements.