Obit: Kobylarczyk, Raymond Edward (1927 - 2010)

Contact: Dolores Mohr Kenyon

Email: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 
 

Surnames: Kobylarczyk, Polnaszek, Sorenson, Dodge, Bogumill, Borrell, Alger, Hoffman, Rycz, Chaplinski, Apfelbeck 
 

----Source: Thorp Courier (Thorp, Clark Co., WI.) February 3, 2010 
 

Kobylarczyk, Raymond Edward (5 January 1927 –28 January 2010) 
 

Raymond E. Kobylarczyk, age 83, of Thorp, passed away at Dove Healthcare, in Eau Claire, on Thursday, January 28, 2010.   
 

Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, February 1, 2010 at St. Bernard-St. Hedwig Catholic Church in Thorp, with Rev. Keith Apfelbeck officiating.  Burial followed in New St. Hedwig’s Catholic Cemetery. Visitation was held at the Thorp Funeral Home on Sunday, January 31. 2010 from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. with a combined parish and Knights of Columbus rosary service at 7 p.m.  Visitation was also held at the church, on Monday, from 9:30 a.m. until time of service. 
 

Raymond Edward Kobylarczyk was born on January 5, 1927 in Thorp, WI the son of Joseph and Julianna (Polnaszek) Kobylarczyk.  He was raised on the family farm and received his education in the Thorp area, graduating from Thorp High School in 1944.  After high school, Ray elected to stay on the home farm and help his parents.  He met Gladys Sorenson in 1949 and they were united in marriage on May 29, 1952 at St. Hedwig’s Chapel in Thorp.  Together, they farmed on Ray’s home farm for 40 years.  He also worked out for a short time doing road construction, at Stanley Corporation, and at the Thorp IGA.  They retired in 1992 and moved into the City of Thorp.  He miraculously survived a major back operation in 1992 and two Parkinson’s operations, and after recovering kept on helping his son, Jerry, on the home farm. 
 

Ray was always fun-loving and witty and many a time the life of the party.  He loved to dance, had a winning smile and made friends easily.  In the past, he and his wife served as 4-H leaders for the Pine Valley 4-H Club in Thorp for 10 years, and in 1992, they received the Senior Farmer Award presented by the Thorp FFA Alumni. Ray served on the Thorp Area Ambulance and Fire Department Board for 30 years; was past-president of the Clark County 4-H Federation; was a member of the Knights of Columbus Queen of Peace Council #4634, where he served as Grand Knight and was Faithful Navigator of the 4^th Degree.  He also served on the St. Bernard-St. Hedwig finance committee for 40 years and was past president of the Parish Council. 
 

He had many interests, but especially enjoyed square dancing, polka dancing, and traveling. 
 

He will be dearly missed by: two daughters: Sue (Scott) Dodge of Amery, and Kay (John) Bogumill of Eau Claire; three sons: Ron (Pam) Kobylarczyk of Cornell, Roger (Elaine) Kobylarczyk of Englewood, CO, and Jerry (Kim) Kobylarczyk of Thorp; 13 grandchildren: Rochelle (Dodge) Borrell, Ryan and Richard Doge, Holly and Keith Kobylarczyk, Erin, Jennifer and Emily Kobylarczyk, Kaleigh and Jace Kobylarczyk, Mitchell, Lauren and Marcus Bogumill; one great-granddaughter, Isabella Rae Borrell; one brother, Leon (Elaine) Kobylarczyk of Chicago; four sisters: Martha Alger of Thorp, Pauline Kobylarczyk of Thorp, Margie Hoffman of Moline, IL; and Josephine (John) Rycz of North Riverside, Il; many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. 
 

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Gladys, on February 6, 2009; two brothers: Tom and Louis Kobylarczyk; three sisters: Marie Chaplinski, Elizabeth Kobylarczyk and Louise Sorenson. 
 

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

Thorp Funeral Home assisted the family with arrangements.