Obit: Penk, Jerome John (1940 - 2011)

Contact: Dolores Mohr Kenyon

Email: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Penk, Pirus, Rudawski, Fleischman, Kudasik, Long

----Source: Thorp Courier (Thorp, Clark Co., WI.) February 23, 2011

Penk, Jerome John (10 February 1940 - 15 February 2011) With flag

Jerome John Penk, 71, of rural Thorp, died peacefully at home on February 15, 2011.  He was born February 10, 1940, on the home farm north of Thorp to the late John and Mary (Pirus) Penk.  Jerry grew up attending area schools and graduated from Gilman High School.  He then served his country in the Army. After his time in the service, Jerry returned to the area and married Carolyn Rudawski on February 21, 1970, in Lublin.  Jerry was a logger for many years.  He had a true love of the outdoors, hunting deer, fishing, and his hunting trips to Colorado.  Jerry was always full of B. S. and was a faithful member of the coffee clutch.

He is survived by his wife of 41 years, Carolyn; two sons, Eric (Michelle) Penk of Prescott, WI and Scott Penk of Thorp; four grandchildren: Kallie, Kelsey, Cole and Kira; one sister, Joann (Tony) Fleischman of Medford; and one uncle, Anton Penk of Thorp.  He is further survived by many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Jerry is preceded in death by his parents; his brother-in-law, John; and his nephew, Brian Kudasik.

A funeral mass was held at 10:30 a.m. at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church in Lublin on  Saturday, February 19, 2011. Father John Long officiated.  Burial followed in the Parish Cemetery with military rites by the Thorp American Legion Cecil Tormey Post #118.  Visitation was from 3:00 until 8:00 p.m. on Friday at the Plombon Funeral Home in Stanley and from 9:00 until 10:00 a.m. on Saturday.