Obit: Persak, Walter J. (1898 - 1957)

Contact: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Persak, Macadlo, Duval, Slupski

----Source: THORP COURIER (Thorp, Clark County, Wis.) 01/02/1958

Persak, Walter J. (2 FEB 1898 - 21 DEC 1957)

Walter J. Persak, 59, of Elmwood, Ill., was killed instantly when his car was struck by a truck at 7:50 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 21, 1957, near Laura, Ill.

Earl J. Martin of Galesburg, Ill., driver of the truck, was taken to the Cottage Hospital at Galesburg, Ill.  His injuries were not considered serious, according to a hospital report.

State Troopers reported to the Peoria district office of state police that accident occurred at the intersection of County Road 9 and Rt. 150 between Routes 78 and 180.

Peoria County Coroner said Persak, a night watchman at Midland Electric Coal Mine was reportedly enroute to his home and traveling on County Road 9, a gravel road, when struck by the westbound truck on Rt. 150.

Gerald Patterson of Elmwood, operator of the funeral home there, pronounced Persak dead when he arrived at the scene at 8:30 a.m., according to state police.

Walter J. Persak was born Feb. 2, 1898 at Thorp (Clark Co.), Wis., the son of John and Mary (Macadlo) Persak, and was married to Margaret Duval, May 21, 1927, at St. Peter and Paul Catholic Church at Gilman, Wis.

His wife survives with three daughters, Patricia, and Delores, both at home, and Mary, a student nurse at St. Joseph’s Hospital at Springfield, Ill.  Also surviving are five brothers, Stanley of Gilman, Wis., Leon and Anthony of West Allis, Wis., Thomas of Orland Park, Ill., and Frank of Chicago, and one sister, Mrs. Julia Slupski of Thorp, Wis.

Funeral services were held Tuesday, Dec. 24^th at 9:30 a.m. at 9:30 a.m. from the St. Patrick Church.  Rev. Daniel Sheehan was celebrant of the Requiem High Mass.

Burial was in the St. Mary’s Cemetery, Elmwood, Ill.

Pallbearers were Charles Ross, John Colgan, Earl Renwick, Allen Coone, Tom MacDonald and Ralph Patton.

He moved to Elmwood, Ill. in 1945 from Gilman.  He was a member of St. Patrick’s Church, St. Patrick’s Men’s Club and Holy Name Society.