Obit: Rycerz, Irene Eleanor (1924 - 2013)

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

Surnames: Rycerz, Kros, Wincek, Oberle, Burkhart, Cichon, Burzynski, Kapica, Jacks, Jakubowski

----Source: Thorp Courier (Thorp, Clark Co, WI) 8/28/2013

Rycerz, Irene Eleanor (16 March 1924 - 23 August 2013)

Irene E. Rycerz, age 89, of Thorp, passed away on Friday August 23, 2013, at her home. Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, August 28, 2013, at St. Bernard-St. Hedwig Catholic Church in Thorp. Rev. Al Jakubowski officiated and burial followed in new St. Hedwig’s Catholic Cemetery with Irene’s sons serving as pallbearers. Visitation was held at the church, on Wednesday, from 9 a.m. until time of service.

Irene Eleanor Wincek was born on March 16, 1924, on the family farm, in the Town of Thorp, to Joseph and Sophie (Kros) Wincek. She received her education at area schools, and upon completion of her education, she moved to Chicago to work. Irene was united in marriage on May 29, 1943, to Adolph J. Rycerz at St. Hedwig’s Catholic Church, in Thorp. Over the years, Irene worked at Blue Moon Cheese Factory, Lombard Cheese Factory, Oakbrook Health & Rehab, and volunteered at the Thorp Senior Center.

She had many interests, but especially loved spending time and cooking or her family gardening, raising flowers, sewing, canning, bird watching, feeding deer and turkeys, listening to Polka music and watching the Green Bay Packers. She was a member of St. Bernard-St. Hedwig Catholic Church and its PCCW.

Irene will be dearly missed by her 11 children: Robert (Barbara) of Richfield, WI, Barbara Rycerz of Thorp, John (Debra) of Greenfield, WI, Roger of Gilman, Kathleen Rycerz of Thorp, Ronald of Chippewa Falls, David and William of Thorp, Mary Ann Oberle of Plymouth, WI, Alan (Julie Burkhart) of Thorp, Eugene (Sherri) of Columbia, SC; nine grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; one sister, Lorraine Cichon of Cicero, IL; several nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Adolph; one brother, Joseph Wincek; and three sisters: Rose Burzynski, Eleanor Kapica, and Valeria Jacks.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.cuddiefh.com.  Thorp Funeral Home assisted the family with arrangements.