Obit: Lastofka, Joseph Peter (1869 - 1957)

Contact: Dolores Mohr Kenyon

Email: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 
 

Surnames: Lastofka, Krejci, Potter, Knuth, Rank, Pluster, Michels, Laafe, Heineman, Westerman, Anderson, Parrett, Sischo, Schroeder, Hales, Cernik, Gloff, Greeler, Kupke, Reindel, Genteman, Simek, Harcey

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI.) June 27, 1957 
 

Lastofka, Joseph Peter (26 February 1869 - 22 June 1957) 
 

Joseph P. Lastofka, 88, died June 22 at the Joe Cernik home, 308 Hewett Street Neillsville, following a lingering illness.  In February of this hear he fell and fractured his hip, and had been in failing health since. 
 

Funeral services were held Tuesday afternoon from the Bergemann Funeral Home.  The Rev. Frank B. Harcey officiated and burial was made in the Neillsville City Cemetery. 
 

Joseph Peter Lastofka was born February 26, 1869 at Myra, in Washington County.  Prior to coming to Clark County he worked in Illinois.  He was employed at the Clark County Poor Farm near Neillsville. 
 

On December 12, 1893, he was married to Mary Krejci at Neillsville.  They resided in a log house for a few years while building a new cement block home, and clearing land for a highly-productive farm, now owned by William Genteman.  In 1920 they retired from farming and moved to Neillsville, owning the home now occupied by the Frank Simek family. 
 

While in Neillsville he followed the carpenter trade.  After selling the home they moved to Wisconsin Rapids, where he was employed by the Daily Tribune and followed the carpenter trade. After the death of his wife 13 years ago he made his home with his children; and for the past four years he made his home with the Cernik family. 
 

He is survived by the following children: George Lastofka of Minneapolis; Mrs. Harlan (Elsie) Potter, Williams Bay; Mrs. Raymond (Mabel) Knuth, Ft. Atkinson; Louis Lastofka, Beloit; Arthur Lastofka, West Allis.  Twelve grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren and a sister, Mrs. Anna Rank of West Bend, also survive. 
 

Pallbearers were: Joe Cernik, Herman Gloff, Erwin Greeler, Charles Kupke, Clarence and Franklin Reindel. 
 

Out of town relatives and friends attending were: George Lastofka, Minneapolis, Minn.; Mr. and Mrs. Harlan Potter, Williams Bay; Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Knuth, Fort Atkinson; Mr. and Mrs. Louis Lastofka, Beloit; Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Lastofka, West Allis; Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Pluster, Milwaukee; Frances Knuth, Milwaukee; Mr. and Mrs. Francis Michels, Alma Center; Mr. and Mrs. Sheldon Laafe, Minneapolis; Mr. and Mrs. Ed Knuth, Mr. and Mrs. William Knuth, Wisconsin Rapids; Mr. and Mrs. Fred ______ , Milwaukee; Mr. and Mrs. Warren Heineman, New London; Mr. and Mrs. Ben Lastofka, Iola; Mr. and Mrs. C. Westerman, Milwaukee; Mr. and Mrs. Tom Anderson, Fort Atkinson; Miss Betty Lastofka, Beloit; Mr. and Mrs. Louis Lastofka, Jr., and daughter. Appleton; Mrs. Clifford Parrett and daughter, Margaret, Mrs. Lyle Sischo, Wisconsin Rapids; Mrs. J. W. Schroeder, South Milwaukee; Mr. and Mrs. George Hales, Granton and Tom Krejci of Willard.