Surnames: Sazama

----Sources: Colby Phonograph (Colby, Clark County, Wis.) Thursday, 10/28/1909

Sazama, Johnnie (27 Oct. 1909 - 13 Jul 2008)

Birth

A son to Mr. and Mrs. Joe Sazama of the town of Hull, Wisconsin, Wednesday night, Oct. 27th.

----Sources: The Chippewa Herald, Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, 15 Jul 2008

Dr. John J. Sazama, 98, of 658 Heritage Ct., Chippewa Falls died Sunday, July 13, 2008, at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Chippewa Falls.

He was born the youngest of seven children on Oct. 28, 1909, to Elizabeth (Velek) and Joseph Sazama in Colby, Marathon County.

He was educated at the University of Wisconsin and in 1937 earned the degree Doctor of Medicine from the University Wisconsin School of Medicine. He completed an internship in Phoenix, Ariz., and further training in surgery in Oklahoma City, Okla. He subsequently trained in Urological Surgery at the University of Wisconsin Medical School.

He married Mary Janese Cline on June 22, l939, in Madison. Following their marriage he began the practice of medicine in Bloomer. In 1943, Dr. John — as he was called by many of his patients — was the first in the area to obtain the then-new drug penicillin for one of Dr. Frank Sazama’s patients. In 1945 he joined his brother, Dr. Frank B. Sazama in Chippewa Falls, and practiced until he retired in 1985 at the age of 76.

He was a 65-year member of B.P.O.E. #1326 and Past Exhalted Ruler. He was also a member of the American Medical Assoc., Wisconsin Medical Assoc., Kiwanis Club, Old Goats Club and Mackarel Snappers at Reiter’s Steak House. He enjoyed telling many hunters’ tales and fisherman’s stories about his many trips with his good friends Gib Reiter, Francis Seyforth and Bill Casper. Gardening was a favorite past-time and he enjoyed the beauty of a garden from his living room window.

He is survived by: two daughters, Carol Mary Sazama of Longmount Colo., Elizabeth Ann (Bert) Pulitzer of Riverside, Conn.; four sons, The Honorable Judge, Thomas John (Mary) Sazama of Chippewa Falls, Dr. Richard Cline (Debra) Sazama, M.D. of Eau Claire, William Joseph (Janice) Sazama of Chippewa Falls and John Patrick (Alison) Sazama of Chippewa Falls; special family member Wayne M. (LuAnn) Steinmentz of Chippewa Falls; special friends of the family primary care giver, Elaine Ford and long term housekeeper, Pat Schemenauer; 12 grandchildren, Bruce McD. Birtwistle, Sarah J. Giusti, Helen C. Garbuz, Stephen E. Sazama, Caroline A. Sazama, Andrew J. Sazama, Ellen E. Pulitzer, Annalise M. Sazama, Janese C. Sazama, Alexander J. Sazama, Graham T. Sazama and Ella F. Sazama; seven great-grandchildren, Nora Birtwistle, Kayla Birtwistle, Rose E. Giusti, Hannah R. Giusti, Cooper G. Giusti, Madeline G. Sazama and Fedote D. Garbuz.

He was preceded in death by: his parents; his wife Janese on July 6, 2000; his daughter Jane Helen Birtwistle on July 17, 2005; two sisters, Margaret Dahlke and Mary Berg; four brothers, Joseph Sazama, Anthony Sazama, Franz Sazama and Dr. Frank Sazama.

A funeral Mass will be held 10 a.m. Thursday, July 17 at St. Charles Borromeo with Fr. William Felix as celebrant. Entombment will follow at Hope Mausoleum in Chippewa Falls.

Friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Pederson-Volker Funeral Chapel in Chippewa Falls and one hour prior to the service Thursday at the church.

In lieu of flowers memorials to Friends of St. Joseph’s Hospital in memory of Dr. John Sazama would be appreciated.

Visit pedersonvolker.com to express online condolences.

Social Security Death Index

John J. Sazama
birth date: 28 October 1909
social security number: 398-18-9615
place of issuance: Wisconsin
last residence: Chippewa, Wisconsin
zip code of last residence: 54729
death date: 13 July 2008
estimated age at death: 99