Obit: Smoczyk, John (1886 - 1960)

Contact: Stan

Email: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Smoczyk, Blastic, Hewins, Walenta, O’Hara, Tanner

----Source: THORP COURIER (Thorp, Clark County, Wis.) 08/18/1960

Smoczyk, John (12 JUL 1886 - 12 AUG 1960)

John Smoczyk, age 94, a former resident of Stanley, died in Milwaukee at 7 o’clock Friday morning at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Helen O’Hara.

Mr. Smoczyk was born July 12, 1866 in Poland, and was married to Josephine Blastic in Poland in 1891.  The next year they came tot eh United States and settled in Wellsville, N.Y., where he did tannery work.  In 1898 they moved to Stanley, Wis., where he continued in that employment until the tannery close.  They then moved to a farm near the city of Stanley where they resided until his retirement in 1938, when they returned to Stanley.  His wife preceded him in death in 1954, and for the past year he had lived with his daughters in Milwaukee.

Surviving are five sons, Stanley Edward of Stanley; John of Auburn, Wash.; Frank of Thorp; Steve of Englewood, Colo.; and Michael of Minneapolis; four daughters, Mrs. Albert (Mary) Hewins, Greendale, Wis.; Mrs. Peter (Sophie) Walenta and Mrs. Helen O’Hara, both of Milwaukee; and Mrs. Jennie Tanner, Deanver, Colo.  He was preceded in death by two sons, Peter, who was killed in 1918 in World War I, and Tony in 1958.

Funeral services were held Tuesday morning at 9:30 o’clock at St. Mary’s Church, Stanley, with Rev. George Mathieu officiating.  Interment was in St. Mary’s Cemetery.

(Additional note provided by Nancy Fay)

My grandfather was his son John, married to Martha Radtke. They had four children, Virginia, Beulah(my mom), John (Jack), and Rita. They farmed in the Litchville, ND area until they moved to Washington State in 1940.