Obit: Ogurek, Frank Joseph #2 (1928 - 2012)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Ogurek, Tarka, Zawacki, Foss, Oler, Slowiak, Davidson, Landress, Ernst

----Source: Thorp Courier (Thorp, Clark Co., WI) 10/31/2012

Ogurek, Frank Joseph (11 March 1928 - 23 October 2012)

Frank J. Ogurek, 84, peacefully passed away on Tuesday, October 23, 2012, at Our Lady of Victory Hospital in Stanley with his wife and children by his side.

Funeral services were held on Saturday October 27, 2012, at St. Bernard-St. Hedwig Catholic Church in Thorp, WI, at 10:30 a.m. Visitation was at 9:30 a.m. and the burial was at St. Hedwig’s Catholic Cemetery immediately after the service.

Frank Joseph Ogurek was born on March 11, 1928, in Chicago, IL. He was the son of Frank A. and Valeria (Tarka) Ogurek and was an only child. He grew up in Lublin, WI, where his father ran the Ogurek Lumber and Fuel business. Frank went to Withee High School where he met his future wife, Mary Zawacki. They were married on September 4, 1948, at St. Hedwig’s Catholic Church.

Frank and Mary began their life together in Chicago, where they worked until the birth of their first child. Shortly after, they moved back to Lublin where Frank started his own business as a milk hauler. A few years later, he moved to Thorp, where he continued to haul milk for many years. Frank hauled milk for Lombard Dairy, Blue Moon Dairy, and others. He spent a lot of time plowing snow in the winter and pumping the lift for the plow by hand. A memorable moment was when he got an electric hydraulic pump and no longer had to manually pump the lift. He also hauled cheese from multiple dairies to processing plants in the area. Frank also raised chickens for Arcadia Fryers for many years, along with raising feeder pigs and later raising his own Hereford beef cattle. After selling his trucking business to his son, Tom, in 1986, he went to work at the Clark County Health Care Center. He also worked nights at Stanley Corporation and retired in 1991.

Frank’s true passions were his faith, family, and helping others. More than anything, he was loving, caring, wise, patient and hardworking. He embraced his Polish heritage by participating in the Polish Folk Dancing Group and the Polish Heritage Society. He was active with the Catholic Church, the Thorp Historical Society, the Knights of Columbus and the Thorp School Board. With his wife, Mary, Frank was a devoted volunteer for the county by driving people in need to their doctor appointments. He also enjoyed playing cards, bowling, traveling, camping, polka dancing, and socializing with his family and friends. Frank was always there to brighten the lives of others.

Frank is survived by his wife, Mary (Zawacki) Ogurek; son, Dennis Ogurek of Altoona, WI; daughter, Patricia Foss of Greendale, WI; two grandchildren: Luke and Lisa Foss of Milwaukee; daughter, Judy (Gordon) Oler of Mondovi, WI; grandchild, Andy Oler of Richland Center, WI; daughter, Connie Ogurek of Golden, CO; granddaughters: Stacey Slowiak (Gary Davidson) of Colorado Springs, CO, and Ronda (Brian) Landress of Colorado Springs, CO; great-grandchildren: Cameron and Jack Landress; son, Thomas Ogurek of Withee, WI; and daughter, Terri Ernst of Owen, WI; grandchildren: Mitchel, Jared, Erica and Emily.

Online condolences may be expressed at: www.cuddiefh.com.

Thorp Funeral Home assisted the family with arrangements.