Surnames: Govek, Melavec, Johnson, Weytens, Mallman

----Source: Loyal TRG 14 January 2009

Govek, Frank L. #2 (10 FEB 1917 - 10 JAN 2009)

Frank L. Govek, 91, Eau Claire, formerly of Willard, died on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2009, at Luther Hospital, Eau Claire. Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m., on Wednesday, Jan. 14, at Holy Family Catholic Church, Willard. The Rev. Joseph Follmar officiated. Burial followed in Holy Family Catholic Cemetery. Military rites were conducted by the Greenwood American Legion Post #238.

Frank Leopold Govek was born on Feb. 10, 1917, in Willard, to Frank and Apolonia (nee Melavec) Govek. He was raised on the family farm and received his education at Rocky Run school. He worked on the family farm until enlisting in the U. S. Navy in 1940. On Aug. 12, 1942, he married Margaret Eugenia Johnson at All Saints Chapel Naval Air Station in Pensacola, Fla. While he served in the navy, they lived in several cities including San Diego, Calif., Corta Modera, Calif., Klamath Falls, Ore., and Bremerton, Wash. After his discharge from the navy, they lived in Sheboygan for a short time before moving to Milwaukee, where he worked as a mechanic for a Ford dealership. In 1950, they moved to Willard and took over the family farm. They sold the farm in 1975. He also worked as a rural mail carrier in Willard, from 1968 until retiring in 1981. He received the Wisconsin rural mail carrier of the year award in 1980. After retiring, they enjoyed traveling, including three trips to Slovenia in Europe, and spending the winters in Yuma, Ariz. In 2004, they moved to South Bend, Ind. To be near their daughter, Carol. His wife died in South Bend on Oct. 5, 2006. He then moved to Wausau for a year, to live with his son, John, and had lived this past year in Eau Claire with his son, William.

He was a member of the Holy Family Catholic Church, the Greenwood American Legion, a former member of the Knight’s of Columbus, a member of the K.S.K.J. Lodge #1, the Slovenia Druzba Club, and served on the Greenwood School Board and the Greenwood Coop Board. He had many interests, but especially enjoyed making wine, preserving the Slovenian traditions in Willard by helping to organize the Willard Fall Festival each year, crossword puzzles, playing cards, reading books (particularly westerns and mystery novels., carpentry work and woodworking.

He will be dearly missed by his four children, John A. (Jane) Govek, Wausau, Mary Ruth (Dave) Weytens, Waukesha, William J. Govek, Eau Claire, and Carol A Govek, South Bend, Ind.; 11 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; one sister, Anne Mallmann, West Allis; and one sister-in-law, Rose Govek, San Jose, Calif.

Preceding him in death were his parents; his wife, Jean; one son, Frank Anthony Govek, on June 28, 1964; two sisters, Apolonia Yerby and Mary Lesar; and four brothers, the first born Frank, Joseph, Anton, and Louis.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.cuddiefh.com.

Cuddie Funeral Home, Greenwood, assisted the family with arrangements.