Obit: Ver Bunker, Marian (1928 - 2011)

Contact: Dolores Mohr Kenyon

Email: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Ver Bunker, Lemanski, Lewandowski, Sopiarz, Ulm, Sweetana, Nelson, Leibelt

----Source: Thorp Courier (Thorp, Clark Co., WI.) March 2, 2011

Ver Bunker, Marian (17 September 1928 - 6 February 2011)

Marian Ver Bunker, age 82, of New Berlin, WI passed away on Sunday, February 6, 2011. Funeral services were held on Saturday, February 12, 2011 at St. Josaphat’s Basilica in Milwaukee.

Marian Lewandowski was born on September 17, 1928 in the Town of Reseburg to the late Susan (Lemanski) and Stephen Lewandowski. She was raised on the family farm and graduated from Thorp High School in 1946.

On June 2, 1951, Marian married Frank Sopiarz and moved to Milwaukee.  Two children were born from that union (Dennis and Kathleen) .  In 1955, she moved back to Thorp; after her husband’s illness and began her career in teaching: Pineland School (1955-1958) , Reseburg School, (1958-1960) , Colby School (1960-1961) and St. Hedwig’s (1961-1964) while pursuing a college degree in Education.  After eight summer school years, she graduated from UW-Stevens Point in 1962.  In 1964, Marian married William Ver Bunker and moved back to Milwaukee and had two daughters. She continued to teach in the Milwaukee area until retiring in the late 1980s.

Reading and her love of books were part of Marian’s life.  She loved to travel and record her memories in journals and scrapbooks. Her Polish heritage pride never wavered; Polka music and dancing, Pope John Paul and a trip to Poland reinforced those strong feelings. She was a sports fan for all seasons especially for her Milwaukee Brewers.

She will be dearly missed by: her children, Dennis (Becky) of Muskego, WI, Kathleen of Milwaukee and Mary (Bryan) Ulm of Dousman, WI: and five grandchildren. Marian is also survived by: two brothers, Vernon (Valeria) and Robert (Mary Ann) Lewandowski of Thorp; and two sisters, Constance (Andrew) Sweetana of Bloomington, Indiana and Margaret Nelson of Salina, Kansas.

She was preceded in death by: her parents; her late husbands; Frank Sopiarz and William Ver Bunker; one daughter, Nancy; and one sister, Helen Leibelt.