Obit: Penk, Joseph S. (1919 - 2009)
Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
Email: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Penk, Piekarz, Kijak, Hellenbrand, Green, Baird, Walker, Long

----Source: Thorp Courier (Thorp, Clark Co., WI.) May 20, 2009

Penk, Joseph S. (6 February 1919 - 16 May 2009) With Flag

Joseph S. Penk, age 90, lifelong resident of the Town of Roosevelt, Lublin, WI, passed away on Saturday, May 16, 2009, at St. Joseph’s Hospital, Marshfield, WI.

A Christian Burial Mass will be held on Thursday, May 21, 2009 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church, Lublin, WI, with Fr. John Long officiating. Burial will follow in the parish cemetery with the Abramowicz-Kacmarczyk-Cwikla American Legion Post #547 of Lublin and Gilman VFW Post # 6186 conducting military graveside rites. Friends and family may call on Wednesday evening from 4-8 p.m. at the Gilman Funeral Home with a 7:30 rosary being recited. There will also be a one hour visitation time at the church on Thursday morning prior to service time. Plombon Funeral Service of Gilman, WI is assisting the family with arrangements.

Joe was born February 6, 1919, in the Town of Roosevelt, Taylor County the son of Martin & Nellie (Piekarz) Penk. He grew up in the area and at age 14 went to work in the CCC Camps. From 1941 to 1945 he served his country in the U. S. Army. On December 7, 1941, he was united in marriage to Josephine Kijak in Chicago, IL, and after serving during WWII, they lived in Chicago until 1950 when they moved to the Town of Roosevelt, where they lived and farmed until retirement in 1981. Joe also worked at the Stanley Corporation, Presto Industries, and later for the Green Thumb. He was a longtime member of St. Stanislaus Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus, and the Abramowicz-Kacmarczyk-Cwikla American Legion Post #547 of Lublin, WI, of which he as an active member and always enjoyed preparing and cooking chicken for their various functions. He also enjoyed fishing, hunting, gambling, and playing 50 point rummy.

Joe is survived by four daughters: Joyce Ann (Tony) Hellenbrand of Madison, WI, Janice (Bob) Green of Angus, MN, Jacqueline (Bob) Baird and jean (John) Walker, both of Warren, MN; and one son, James (Carolyn) Penk of Lublin, WI; plus 13 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren, and one brother, Tony Penk of Thorp, WI.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Josephine in 2002; brothers and sisters: Della, Chester, Bruno, John and Valeria.