Obit: Petrulis, Fred (1892 - 1965)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon

Email: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Petrulis, Ulka, Dobrzynski, Jenkot, Kroll, Norysiewicz, Osowski, Zielanis, Baehr, Swienton, Milaknis, Rymkus, Stuopis, Masliewicz

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI.) December 2, 1965

Petrulis, Fred (16 August 1892 - 20 November 1965)

Fred Petrulis, 73, a long-time resident of the rural Thorp area, died November 20, at Sacred Heart Hospital, Eau Claire, as a result of numerous ailments.

Mr. Petrulis was born August 16, 1892, in Panaviesys (Panevezhis), Lithuania; he came to the United States at the age of 21, in 1913.  Coming originally to Chicago, he attended night school and worked primarily as a tailor and a butcher.  It was here that he met and married Ann Ulka November 21, 1920.

After moving to Thorp in 1924, Mr. and Mrs. Petrulis farmed and were in business on the same location in the Town of Withee for 41 years.

A general rosary service, led by the Rev. Ed Masliewicz, was followed by additional rosary prayers sponsored by the Knights of Columbus Tuesday evening.   The Rev. Masliewicz also conducted the 10 a.m. funeral service from St. Hedwig’s chapel November 24.  Burial was made in the new St. Hedwig’s Cemetery in Thorp. A dinner for friends and relatives, after the funeral rites, was prepared and served by St. Patricia’s circle in the chapel dining room.

Pallbearers were: Andrew Dobrzynski, Andrew Jenkot (Chicago), Frank Kroll, Anton Norysiewicz, John Osowski, and Alfred Zielanis.  All had been neighbors of the Petrulis’; several of them helped Mr. Petrulis get started in the cattle business when he first came to Thorp.

Mr. Petrulis is survived by Ann, his wife of 45 years; a son, Ferdinand of Withee; two daughters, Mrs. Vernon (Anita) Baehr of Withee, and Mrs. Richard (Sylvia) Swienton of Thorp; five grandchildren; a brother, Petras; and a sister, Ona, both in Lithuania; cousins Halina and DR. Anthony Milaknis and daughter, Vitalia, Adam Rymkus, Dr. Konstancija Stuopis and children, Regina and George, all of Chicago - Mr. Petrulis’ only relatives, outside of his immediate family in America.