Obit: Sowieja, Jerome C. (1926 - 2009)
Contact: Stan  

Surnames: Sowieja, Zwilling, Grabara, Follmer, Scheuerman, Zahn, Pavlow, Lindenbergh

----Source: Marshfield News Herald (Marshfield, Wood County, Wis.) Saturday, 16 May 2009

Sowieja, Jerome C. (2 Nov. 1926 - 9 May 2009)

Jerome C. "Jerry" Sowieja, 82, of Merrill, formerly of Greenwood, died Saturday, May 9, 2009, at Kennedy Park Medical and Rehabilitation Center, Schofield.

Jerry was born Nov. 2, 1926, in Duluth, Minn., son of the late Vincent and Mary (Zwilling) Sowieja. He married his longtime love, Elizabeth J. "Elsie" Grabara on Feb. 21, 1948. She survives.

Jerry enlisted in the U.S. Army on Jan. 29, 1945, and was honorably discharged Nov. 17, 1946. He served in the Pacific Theater during World War II. Jerry was a lifetime American Legion member. He was commander of the Wallis-Hinker Post from 1978 to 1980 and 1991 to 1993. Jerry represented the Legion Post on the Chamber Board for several years, and served as the group's president for a term.

Jerry began working for Clark Electric Cooperative in 1948, when he and Elsie moved to Greenwood. He started as a mechanic and went through the lineman apprenticeship program. Jerry retired in 1989 as line superintendent. He received a statewide award from an electric industry organization for saving a fellow worker's life while on a job as a lineman. Jerry taught a class for hotline crews for the Chippewa Valley Technical College.

He was a longtime member of the Greenwood Chamber of Commerce. In 1999, Jerry was named the Greenwood Chamber of Commerce's Annual Citizen of the Year. He received this award for his contributions to Greenwood over 41 years. Jerry was Greenwood's last justice of the peace before the job was eliminated throughout the state.

He also served a term as a county representative to the Wisconsin Conservation Congress. Jerry worked with the Greenwood police to deal with ordinance infractions. He was honored once again for his dedication to Greenwood when he was named the parade marshal for the 2003 Greenwood Dairy Days Parade. He was the Legion representative on the Dairy Days Committee. Jerry was a corner monitor for the Greenwood Dairy Days 30 Bicycle Race/Tour. He firmly believed that "every citizen should pitch in to help make their town a better place."

Outside of his civic volunteer jobs, Jerry was a volunteer fireman for 29 years. He was a Cub Scout and Boy Scout Leader. Jerry was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church, Greenwood, where he was an active volunteer in many of the church's activities. Jerry was an Honorary Life Member of the Knights of Columbus. He enjoyed bowhunting, fishing and building trailers. He was also a member of the Black River Bowmen's Club for over 40 years.

Survivors include his wife, Elizabeth "Elsie" Sowieja, of Merrill; two daughters, Sue (Dick) Scheuerman, of Hendersonville, N.C., and Carol Zahn, of Carollton, Texas; three sons, Donald (Terry) Sowieja, of Tucson, Ariz., Charles (Ginny) Sowieja, of Merrill, and Mike (Brenda) Sowieja, of Richfield; 12 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. Jerry was preceded in death by two sisters, Ramona Pavlow and Eleanor Lindenbergh; and three brothers, Eugene, Ambrose and James Sowieja.

Jerry was a beloved husband, father, uncle, brother and friend and a great outdoorsman who fought for the improvement and conservation of our natural resources. His generosity and kindness touched many lives. He believed that "community service is what makes the world go 'round," and his actions supported those words. He will be sadly missed.

A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 30, 2009, at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Greenwood. Father Joseph Follmer will officiate. Burial will take place in Greenwood Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will begin at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at the church. The Taylor-Stine Funeral Home, Merrill, is assisting the family with arrangements.