Surnames: Zielinski, Nagorski, Henaman, Peoples, Hanck, Muehlbauer, VanArk, Cain

----Source: Thorp Courier (Thorp, Clark Co., WI.) November 12, 2008

Zielinski, Stephen A. "Steve" (6 December 1926 - 6 November 2008) With Flag

Stephen A. "Steve" Zielinski, age 81 years, of Colby, died Thursday, November 6, 2008 in the Critical Care Unit of St. Joseph’s Hospital in Marshfield after being admitted on November 2, 2008.

Funeral services were held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, November 10, 2008 at Nazareth Lutheran Church in Withee. Pastor Bonnie J. Cain, authorized minister, officiated. Burial followed in Riverside Cemetery in the Town of Hixon with full military honors. Visitation was held on Sunday, November 9, 2008 from 4-8 p.m. at the Maurina-Schilling Funeral Home in Owen and on Monday at the church in Withee from 10 a.m. until time of services. Serving as his active pallbearers were David, Steven, and Janes Henaman, Dennis Josh and Zeb Zielinski, Michael Hanck and Larry VanArk. His honorary pallbearers were Tanya Hanck and Julie VanArk.

Steve was born on December 6, 1926 to John and Amellia (Nagorski) Zielinski on the family farm in the Town of Hixon in Clark County. He received his education at Pineland and Timberland country schools in rural Withee and later attended Gilman and Withee High Schools. He returned to his parent’s farm for a short period of time to help out with farming chores and then joined the Civilian Conservation Corps. Steve served his country by entering the U. S. Army in 1945 and worked in the Ordinance Division maintaining and repairing tank turrets during WWII. He was honorably discharged from the Army in 1947. Later that same year Steve married Joyce Peoples in Dillon, South Carolina on June 14, 1947. They moved to Chicago where Steve was first employed as a cab driver then later became a millwright for Western Electric Telephone Co. located in Cicero, IL. Steve and Joyce moved to LaGrange IL until his retirement in 1986. Following his retirement they moved to the Withee area to rejoin some of his family.

In 2007 Steve and Joyce had celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary.

In his spare time Steve enjoyed camping and model railroading. By far one of his greatest loves beside his family was his love for playing the concertina for local events. Spending time with his family, going snowmobiling, or fishing were things Steve enjoyed. Retired life in general felt good to Steve and he loved every moment of it. Steve was a member of the Withee Lions Club, a member of the Boom Town Show Chasers Club of Curtiss and a former member of the American Legion of Chicago.

Steve is survived by his loving wife, Joyce of Colby; his children: Dennis and Jane Zielinski of Mosinee, Darlene and Nick Hanck of Elmhurst, IL and Betty and Joe Muehlbauer of Spencer, WI; ten grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren. He is further survived by a twin brother, Leon (Ethel) Zielinski of Inverness, FL; and other nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

Steve was preceded in death by his parents and five brothers: Joseph, Edward, Frank, Stanley and Walter.