Obit: Staszak, Joseph (1886 – 1958)

Contact: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Staszak, Plonka, Jelinek, Bloczynski, Grynciewicz, Pratt, Engebretson, Steurnagel, Bohac, Prusa, Kling, Huss, Ness

----Source: Staszak Family Memoirs Collection by Agnes Staszak Schanen

Staszak, Joseph (12 March 1886 – 11 May 1958)

Mr. Joseph Staszak, 72, formerly of Hatfield, passed away at 4:45 p.m. May 11, 1958 at St. Bernard’s Hospital in Chicago following a heart attack.  He has suffered a slight heart attack on the sixth of May and another on the ninth.  His home was at 2543 South Sawyer Avenue and all of his children were with him during his illness and at the time of his passing.

Mr. Staszak was born March 12, 1886 in Poland.  He served in the German Army under Kaiser Wilhelm before coming to America in 1912.  He lived in Chicago until 1918 when he moved to the Hatfield community where he engaged in farming until December of 1957.  He was married to Pauline Plonka on October 24, 1914.

Seven children were born to this marriage.  Two passed away in infancy and Albert passed away November 17, 1951. The others are Agnes of Milwaukee, Stella, Mrs. Charles Jelinek of Hatfield, Mary, Mrs. Leo Bloczynski of Black River Falls; and John on the home farm near Hatfield.  Mrs. Staszak passed away very suddenly December 31, 1954 following a heart attack.  He never completely got over the sudden loss of her and he mourned her death deeply.  He is also survived by one sister in Poland, and seven grandchildren.

He was good, kind, honest and considerate of all.  He loved people and made friends with strangers very readily.  He made many new friends in Chicago where has been living since January 1, 1958.

On January 4, 1958, he was married to Katherine Grynciewicz in Chicago.  She survives him.

Mr. Staszak served as a School Director at the Hatfield School for a number of years before it was consolidated with the Black River Falls school system.  He collected a sum of money from friends, neighbors and Jackson County businessmen with which a new fence, gate and sign was secured for the Hatfield Cemetery.

Funeral services were conducted Thursday, May 15 at 2 p.m. from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Black River Falls with the Rev. Raymond Huss officiating. Mrs. Robert Pratt and Mrs. Bert Engebretson had charge of the music and presented “The Old Rugged Cross” and “Beyond the Sunset.” 

The pallbearers were: Raymond Steurnagel, Leo Bloczynski, Sr., Louis Jelinek, Bohumil H. Bohac, Joseph Prusa and William Kling.  Interment was made in Riverside Cemetery, Black River Falls.  The Ness Funeral Home had charge of the arrangements.  Mrs. Katherine Staszak and her daughter, Julia of Chicago attended the funeral there and Mr. Staszak’s cousin, Mrs. Helen Staszak came from Cicero, Illinois for the services.

Card of Thanks

We wish to extend our sincere thanks to all our friends, neighbors and relatives for their kindness and sympathy at the recent death of our beloved husband, father, and grandfather, Joseph Staszak.  We are especially grateful to Rev. Raymond Huss for his comforting words, pallbearers, for the music, George Ness, and all those who sent floral and memorial gifts, also to the ladies serving lunch.  Joseph Staszak Family

----Source: Unknown - perhaps from a Chicago newspaper:

Joseph Staszak, 72, formerly of Jackson County passed away following a heart attack at St. Bernard’s Hospital, Chicago, on Sunday afternoon May 11, 1958.

A former resident of the Town of Komensky he was joined in marriage January 4, 1958 with Kathry Grynciewicz who survives as do his three daughters, Agnes of Milwaukee, Stella, Mrs. Charles Jelinek, Hatfield, and Mary, Mrs. Leo Bloczynski, of Black River Falls, and one son John, on the home farm at Hatfield, near Merrillan.

Funeral services for him will be conducted Thursday at 2 p.m. from the Evangelical Lutheran Church with Rev. Raymond Huss officiating.  Interment will be made in Riverside Cemetery. Friends may call at the Ness Funeral Home Wednesday afternoon and evening.