Obit: Kopacz, Matthew John #3 (1919 - 2006)

Contact: Crystal Wendt
Email:  crystal@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Kapacz, Wadas, Kozial, Wernsman, Larson, Foss, Baehr, Gardner

----Sources: Marshfield News Herald (Marshfield, Wood Co., Wis.) February 15, 2006

Kopacz, Matthew John (1 Dec. 1919 - 14 Feb. 2006)

Matthew J. Kopacz

THORP -- Matthew John Kopacz, 86, of Thorp died Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2006, at Clark County Health Care Center in Owen, Wis.

Services wil be at 10 a.m. Friday, Feb. 17, 2006, at St. Bernard-St. Hedwig's Catholic Church in Thorp. Burial will follow in New St. Hedwig's Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Thorp Funeral Home, where a 7 p.m. rosary service will be held.

He was born Dec. 1, 1919, in Chicago, Ill., to John and Victoria (Wadas) Kopacz. He married Helen Kozial on June 21, 1947, in Sheldon. Helen preceded him in death on Feb. 20, 2004. They farmed until 1961, when they moved to the Greenwood area, where they owned and operated the Wildwood Tavern until 1977. He also worked for Post Co. in Owen and later for Lato Co. in Thorp, from which he retired.

Surviving are his children, Barbara (Bill) Wernsman, Jacksonville, Ill., Patsy (Ken Larson) Foss, St. Paul, Minn., Kada (Wally) Baehr, Withee, Mike (Lori) Kopacz, Clear Lake, and Tersia (Ray) Gardner, Greenwood; 14 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.