Obit: Zajack, Anna Josephine (1922 - 2013)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Zajack, Budzinski, Lato, Wirth, Kielkucki, Harycki, Mickelson, Grabowski, Long, Purkapile, Jakubowski

----Source: Thorp Courier (Thorp, Clark Co, WI) 10/02/2013

Zajack, Anna Josephine (31 October 1922 - 25 September 2013)

Anna J. Zajack, age 90, of Thorp, passed away on Wednesday, September 25, 2013, at Our Lady of Victory Hospital in Stanley. Funeral services were held on Monday, September 30, 2013, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Bernard-St. Hedwig Catholic Church in Thorp. Rev. Al Jakubowski officiated and burial followed in St. Hedwig’s Catholic Cemetery. Pallbearers were Anna’s grandsons: Patrick Kielkucki, Jeffrey Wirth, Timothy Harycki, Peter Harycki, Paul Harycki and Mathew Zajack. Visitation was held on Sunday, September 29, 2013, at Thorp Funeral Home from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. with a 7:30 p.m. parish rosary. Visitation was also held on Monday from 9:30 a.m. until time of service at the church.

Anna Josephine Lato was born on October 31, 1922, in the Town of Reseburg, rural Thorp, to Felix and Josephine (Budzinski) Lato. She was raised on the family farm and received her education at Goff School. After completing her education, Anna worked as a babysitter for a few years. She then moved to Chicago and did factory work during World War II. In 1945, Anna was introduced to Chester Zajack at a friend’s wedding, and their courtship ensued. They were united in marriage on September 21, 1946, at St. Hedwig’s Catholic Church in Thorp. Together, they farmed north of Thorp and raised their seven children. They retired in 1993 and moved to the City of Thorp where Anna resided until the time of her death.

In her spare time, Anna enjoyed sewing, reading, picking mushrooms, gardening, baking apple pies, working on the farm, and traveling with Chet. She was an active member of St. Bernard-St. Hedwig’s Catholic Church and its PCCW, The Thorp American Legion Auxiliary and the Thorp Historical Society.

She is survived by six children: Cecilia (Jerold) Wirth of Mosinee, Clara (Daniel) Kielkucki of Rothschild, Carl (Kathy) Zajack of Thorp, Carolyn Harycki-Mickelson of Rice Lake, Casey (Beth) Zajack of Thorp, and Anita (Ted) Smith of Trego; 13 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren; one brother, Joseph Lato of Thorp; nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.

Anna was preceded in death by her parents; her daughter, Ruth Marie, in 1963; her husband, Chester, in 1998; four sisters: Stella Lato in infancy, Mary Grabowski, Rose Long and Nellie Purkapile; and three brothers: Vincent Lato, Paul Lato and Stanley Lato.

Online condolences may be expressed at: www.cuddiefh.com.  Thorp Funeral Home assisted the family with arrangements.