Obit: Kalas, James (1892 - 1956)

Contact: Dolores Mohr Kenyon
Email: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Kalas, Honzik, Rizner, Kozsek, Mortenson, Matousek, Meier, Schwamb, Suchanek, Dusak, Sojka, Hoef, McCray, Kleckner, Wall, Grether, Guthmiller, Cardarelle, Hartung, Karnitz, Carl, Pischer, Ott, Stanley, Schwamb, Dux

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI.) May 3, 1956

Kalas, James (27 August 1892 - 30 April 1956)

Funeral services with military rites, will be held this (Thursday) afternoon from Zion Evangelical and Reformed Church for James Kalas, 63, long-time Town of Levis resident who died early Monday following an extended illness. Death was attributed to a heart condition.

In charge of the service will be the Rev. Albert Guthmiller, and burial will be made in the Town of Levis Cemetery. Arrangements are being made by the Bergemann Funeral Home.

Mr. Kalas, son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Anton Kalas, was born August 27, 1892, in Jugoslavia. When he was a small boy his family came to this country and settled in Chicago. At the age of 13 he moved onto a farm near Shortville. Following completion of his schooling he went to the Dakotas, where he worked in the harvest fields, later returning to Neillsville.

He served with the National Guard and was stationed on the Mexican border. ON June 6, 1917, he entered service in World War I. He served as a Wagoner with Co. "A" of the 128th Infantry overseas; and was discharged May 19, 1919, at Camp Grant, Ill. Following his discharge he worked for several years as a machinist in Chicago. He then returned to the Shortville area and had been on a farm since that time. He was married September 4, 1932, to Mae Honzik of Neillsville.

He was a member of the American Legion, Haugen-Richmond Post No. 73.

He is survived by his wife and the following sisters: Mrs. Mike (Rose) Rizner, Neillsville; Albie Kalas, Chicago; Mrs. Antonette Kozsek, Chicago; Mrs. Edward (Anna) Schwamb, Chicago; and Mrs. Rognar (Emalie) Mortenson, Neillsville.

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI.) May 10, 1956

Funeral services for James Kalas, 63, who died April 30, were conducted Thursday afternoon from the E & R Church. The Albert Guthmiller officiated and interment took place in the Town of Levis Cemetery. The American Legion was in charge of military rites. In command of the group was Joseph Cardarelle; color bearers were: Joseph Hartung and Ernest Karnitz; color guard consisted of Gust Carl and Harold Pischer; firing squad, Ernest Ott and Leon Stanley; Chaplain, Edward Schwamb; and bugler, DeWayne Dux.

Mrs. John Kleckner and Mrs. Ellis Wall sang two selections, accompanied by Mrs. Jacob Grether.

Pallbearers were nephews: Robert Mortenson, Edward, Emil, George and William Rizner. In charge of the flowers were four nieces: Betty Matousek, Annette and Betty Meier and Edna Schwamb.

Out of town relatives attending were: Miss Albie Kalas, Chicago; Mrs. Antoinette Kozsek, Mr. and Mrs. Edward Schwamb, Miss Edna Schwamb, all of Chicago; Mr. and Mrs. Anton Rizner, Elmhurst, Ill.; Mr. and Mrs. Edward Rizner and family, Tomah; Mr. and Mrs. Frank Rizner and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. George Rizner, of Milwaukee; Mr. and Mrs. Emil Rizner and son of Chicago; Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Honzik, Berwyn, Ill.; Mr. and Mrs. Peter Honzik and family, Chicago; Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Suchanek, Hatfield; Mr. and Mrs. Emil Dusak, Milwaukee, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Sojka, Pittsville; John C. Hoef, Danbury; and W. R. McCray, Madison.