Obit: Staszak, John #2 (1924 – 1979)

Contact: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Staszak, Plonka, Schanen, Jelinek, Bloczynski, Winningham, Zingelman

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

Staszak, John (25 Aug. 1924 – 7 Feb. 1979)

Other accounts of the death of John Staszak, Hatfield Native –

Rolling log hits kills Merrillan truck driver

Cataract, Wis. – A 54-year-old Jackson County man died Wednesday afternoon in an industrial accident at Fifield Forest Products, Inc.; a Cataract area sawmill.

John Staszak, R. 1 Merrillan, a truck driver, was killed about 2:30 p.m.   According to a spokesman for the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department, a chain binder came loose on a load of logs causing a log, about 10-feet long, to roll from the top of a truck trailer, striking Staszak, who died instantly.  Staszak was standing next to the truck at the time of the accident.

Monroe County Coroner, Gary Winningham said death was due to a skull fracture and massive chest injuries.

The saw mill is located about nine miles north of Sparta at the intersection of State highways 27 and 71.

Funeral arrangements are pending at Torgerson Funeral Home, Black River Falls.

Hatfield Logger Killed –

John Staszak, 54, Hatfield, was killed Wednesday, February 7, 1979, in a logging accident at Fifield Forest Products, Inc. a Cataract area saw mill.

According to a spokesman for the Monroe County Sheriff’s office, a chain binder came loose on a load of logs causing a log, about 10-feet-long, to roll from the top of a truck trailer, striking Staszak, who died instantly. Staszak was standing next to the truck at the time of the accident.

He was born August 25, 1924, in Hatfield to Joseph and Pauline (Plonka) Staszak and had always lived in the Hatfield area.  He married Patricia Kling on August 23, 1958, in Black River Falls.

Before he became self-employed as a woodsman, he worked in the game management division of the Department of Natural Resources for fourteen years and was stationed at the Komensky Ranger Station.

Survivors include his wife; three sons, Michael, William and Randy, all at home; and three sisters, Mrs. Lawrence (Agnes) Schanen of Port Washington and Mrs. Charles (Stella) Jelinek and Mrs. Leo (Mary) Bloczynski, both of Black River Falls.

Services were held Saturday afternoon in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Black River Falls with the Rev. Erik Zingelman officiating.  Burial was in the Hatfield Cemetery.

The Torgerson Funeral Chapel, Black River Falls, was in charge of the arrangements.