Obit: Klak, Aloysius (1909 - 2012)

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

Surnames: Klak, Tomkowiak, Janicki

----Source: Thorp Courier (Thorp, Clark Co., WI) 8/22 & 8/29/2012

Klak, Aloysius (24 May 1909 - August 2012)

Aloysius Klak, age 103, husband of the late Pauline (nee Janicki) Klak for 66 years; father of Lawrence, Norman, Kenneth, Carole, Paulette, Mary and Thomas; grandfather to Jackie, Suzie, Paul, Matt, Michelle, Stacey, Cree, Gavin, Talus, Laurel Rose, Mary, Jimmy, Saskia, Ada and RubyVal; long-time parishioner at St. Daniel the Prophet Catholic Church and a cab driver on Chicago’s City streets for 67 years.

Aloysius was born on the family dairy farm in Thorp, WI, on May 24, 1909, the thirteenth of fourteen children born to Franciszka (nee Tomkowiak) and Ignatz Klak. He was known as “Ole” in school. He moved to Milwaukee to live and work with his brother, Stanley, at age 17, and on to Chicago a year later. Once in Chicago, he began driving streetcars and uses for the CTA and ultimately became master of his own destiny as the owner-operator of the Independent Cab Company, driving regularly and safely until the age of 88. He had many long-term customers, some of whom became friends.

Aloysius was fiercely proud of his Polish heritage, instilling in his children and grandchildren a love to Polka music and Polish food and a strong cultural connection to the Church. He celebrated his 100th birthday in classic Aloysius Style: eating Polish food, drinking beer and dancing to live polka music with his family all day long! His other favorite pastimes were making (and drinking) his own wine, gardening, watching the Cubbies, playing the stock market, going to Mass, fishing, and reading the newspaper. He had a naturally curious mind and many a family dinner was interrupted by the need to consult “The Book of Knowledge” to learn about some interesting event or person in history. Aloysius was a person of strong religious devotion, and the rare person fully committed to living the values of his faith, especially those of love and fidelity to his family and the Church.

The funeral will be Thursday, at 9:30 a.m. from Foran Funeral home, 7300 W. Archer Ave. (55th St. just west of Harlem) to St. Daniel the Prophet Church; Mass at 10 a.m. & interment Resurrection Cemetery. Visitation will be Wednesday from 3 to 9 p.m. For information call 708-458-0208 or send condolences online at www.foranfuneralhome.com.