Surnames: Apflbeck, Balcier, Cuyler, Denvin, Denzin, Fischer, Flores, Franklin, Gebert, Garguilo, Harris, Miller, Murien, Robida, Schaefer, Thorson, Younker

----Source: The Tribune Phonograph (Abbotsford, Clark Co., Wis.) Volume 48, No. 33, August 13, 2008, Page 14

Robida, John A. (1 May 1917 - 11 Aug. 2008)

John A. Robida, age 91 years, of Dorchester, passed away on Monday, August 11, 2008, in the Palliative Care Unit at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Marshfield where he had been admitted on August 10, 2008.

John was born May 1, 1917, to Anton and Mary (Murien) Robida in the town of Deer Creek in Taylor County. He attended grade school at Pleasant Valley grade school in Deer Creek until the 8th grade. He started his work career as a licensed cheesemaker working in Stetsonville. John later became a owner/operator of a dairy farm outside of Dorchester, Wis.

John married Jeannette E. Gebert on Sept. 1, 1941, at St. Louis Catholic Church in Dorchester, Wis. After retiring from farming John started doing carpentry work which he enjoyed. John’s greatest love was his wife Jeannette and their snowbirding to Texas and Florida for over 16 years. John enjoyed fishing and camping and traveling in their motorhome. John is a member of the Catholic Order of Forester’s and a member of St. Louis Catholic Church in Dorchester, Wis.

John is survived by his loving and caring wife, Jeannette of Dorchester; his children, Karen Apfelbeck of Colby, Ronald (Judy) Robida of Dorchester, Gwendolyn Harris of Scandanavia, Trude (Tom) Garguilo of Orlando, Fla.; 16 grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren; and two step great-grandchildren. John is further survived by his siblings, Ann Denzin of Medford, Margaret (Walter) Balciar of Medford, Donavan (Jo) Robida of Stratford; and a sister-in-law, Agnes Robida. Also survived by many other relatives and many friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Reginald; two brothers, Roy and William Robida; and a brother-in-law, Ed Denvin; and son in law Andrew Apfelbeck.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Thursday, August 14, at St. Bernard’s Catholic Church in Abbotsford, Wis. Concelebrants for the Mass will be Rev. Benjamin Franklin, Pastor, and Rev. James Schaefer, a former family parish priest. A private family committal service at Dorchester Cemetery will be held at a later date. Friends may call from 9 a.m. until time of services on Thursday at the church in Abbotsford, Wis. Pallbearers will be Craig, Cuyler, and Chad Robida, Jay and Jody Apfelbeck and Matthew Flores. Honorary pallbearers will be Jerad and Jenna Younker, Tyler and Cody Thorson, Jami Miller, Heather, Erin, and Danielle Harris and Heidi Fischer.