Obit: Szpara, John Francis (1932 - 2011)

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

Surnames: Szpara, Baran, Witalis, Sromek, Lis, Stefan, Jaski

----Source: Thorp Courier (Thorp, Clark Co., WI.) April 20, 2011

Szpara, John Francis (17 June 1932 - 17 April 2011) With Flag

John F. Szpara, age 78, of Lublin, passed away on Sunday, April 17, 2011, at his home.  Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, April 25, 2011, at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church in Lublin with burial in the parish cemetery.  Visitation will be held at Thorp Funeral Home on Sunday, April 24, 2011, from 5 to 8 p.m. with a 7:30 p.m. rosary. Visitation will also be held at the church, on Monday, from 9:30 a.m. until time of service.

Thorp Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

----Source: Thorp Courier (Thorp, Clark Co., WI.) April 27, 2011

John F. "Sparky" Szpara, age 78, of Lublin, WI, died unexpectedly on Sunday, April 17, 2011, at home.

Funeral services were held on Monday, April 25, 2011, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church in Lublin.  Visitation was held on Sunday, April 24, 2011, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Thorp Funeral Home and on Monday, one hour prior to services at the church.

Graveside military rites were conducted by the Lublin American Legion Post, with burial in the Catholic Cemetery.

John Francis Szpara was born on June 17, 1932, in Thorp, WI, the son of John & Catherine (Baran) Szpara.  He was raised and received his education in Thorp.  John served in the United States Marine Corp during the Korean Conflict and was honorably discharged in 1953.  On November 20, 1954, John married Doris Witalis in Lublin, WI.  John was self-employed as a cattle dealer for many years.  John and Doris owned & operated a pet food plant in Lublin, WI.  In his early years, John enjoyed racing stock cars, shooting pool and playing darts.  John’s hobbies included stamp collecting, planting his gardens of pumpkins, sunflowers, potatoes, and picking blueberries.  John loved his grandchildren and was very proud of them.  He was always thinking of something special to surprise them with.  Every morning John & Doris woke up to the music he loved - Polkas.

John is survived by his wife of 56 years, Doris; three children: Marilyn (George) Sromek of Verona, WI, Daniel (Tami) of Withee, WI, and Renee (David) Lis of Thorp, WI; and daughter-in-law Erin Szpara of Fall Creek, WI.  John is also survived by two sisters: Mary Stefan, River Grove, IL and Claire (Lee) Jaski, Chicago, IL. He is further survived by many nieces and nephews.

John was preceded in death by his son, John Craig, in 2009 and daughter Angel in infancy; his parents; and three brothers and two sisters.

"Grampy" and Grandaddy" will be missed by his grandchildren: Jordan, Alex and Catherine Sromek, Russell (Karen) Blake Lis, Cole and Devin Szpara, and Sabra Szpara. To honor their grandfather the grandchildren served as pallbearers.