Obit: Krainz, Valentine "Val" Frank #2 (1918 - 2006)

Contact:  Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
Email: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Krainz, Zgonc, Platisha, Mazzatti, Horvat, Harbort, Zwieg, Kaltinger

----Sources: Clark County Press (Neillsville, WI.) November 22, 2006

-Krainz, Valentine "Val" Frank (January 18, 1918 - November 19, 2006)

Valentine F. "Val" Krainz, age 88, of Willard, entered the arms of his Eternal Father on Sunday, November 19, 2006 at St. Joseph’s Hospital, in Marshfield.

Valentine Frank Platisha was born on January 17, 1918 in Willard to Valentine Sr. and Antonia (Zgonc) Platisha. His father, mother, a brother Stanley, and a sister Louise, all died in December of 1918 during a flu epidemic. Val and his sister, Antonia, were adopted by Anton and Catherine (Mazzatti) Krainz, on September 20, 1919. He was raised on a farm in Willard and received his education at the Willard School. Val and Helen Horvat were united in marriage at Holy Family Catholic Church, in Willard, on January 21, 1942. Val farmed all of his life, but also held many other jobs, including: treasurer and doing road work for the Town of Hendren; working at the A.S.C.S. office, in Neillsville, for 20 years; working at Black River Campers, in Loyal, for eight years; school bus driver and a custodian for the Greenwood School District for 10 years; and a mail carrier for the Willard Post Office for 12 years. After retiring, Val continued to live just south of Willard until his death.

He was a member of Holy Family Catholic Church and was on the church council; was the sexton of Holy Family Cemetery for many years, was a member of the Knights of Columbus Our Lady of Fatima Council #4963 for more than 60 years; was a member of the Rock Dam Rod and Gun Club for 10 years; and a member of the Willard Historical Society, and a member of the N.A.F.E.

Val had many interests, but especially loved spending time with his family, deer hunting, fishing and gardening.

He will be sadly missed by his wife, Helen, of Owen; his children, Donna (Allan) Harbort of Brookfield, WI, Robert (Mary Ann) Krainz, of Willard; Larry (Cheryl) Krainz, of Marshfield; Ruth (Darwin) Zwieg, of Willard; five grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one son, Valentine F. Krainz, Jr.; one brother, Stanley Platisha; and two sisters, Louise Platisha and Antonia Kaltinger.

Funeral services were held Wednesday, November 22, 2006, at Holy Family Catholic church in Willard. Fr. Joseph Follmar officiated. Burial was in the Holy Family Cemetery.

Pallbearers were Michael Harbort, James Harbort, Duane Krainz, Justin, Zwieg, Brandon Zwieg and Darwin Zwieg.