Obit: Kielkucki, Daniel (1944 - 2014)

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

Surnames: Kielkucki, Filipkowski, Zajack, Staples, Heintz, O’Conner, Carlson, Kroll, Al-Bacil

----Source: Thorp Courier (Thorp, Clark Co., WI) 1/07/2015

Kielkucki, Daniel (24 February 1944 - 28 December 2014) With Flag

Daniel E. Kielkucki, 70, of Rothschild, passed away on Sunday, December 28, 2014, at St. Clare’s Hospital, Weston, surrounded and comforted by his family.

Mr. Kielkucki was born on February 24, 1944, in St. Paul, Minnesota, the second child of five to the late Thomas and Ann (Filipkowski) Kielkucki. As a child, he attended St. Casimir’s Catholic School in St. Paul. He graduated from Our Lady of the Ozarks Prep School in Carthage, MO, and studied at Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate in Belleville, IL. He received an Associate’s Degree in accounting from St. Thomas University in St. Paul.

Daniel spent most winter months playing hockey with either the St. Casimir’s or the Lockwood Playground’s hockey team. Daniel also played baseball and was invited to try out for the Minnesota Twin’s farm team. Later in life, he was a coach for his children’s little league team.

In 1965, Daniel met the love of his life, Clara Zajack of Thorp, Wisconsin, whole attending the wedding of his cousin. Clara and Daniel were married on April 22, 19667, at the St. Hedwig Catholic Church in Thorp, Wisconsin. They were happily married for 47 years, during which time they raised four children together. Daniel was drafted into the United States Army just before his marriage to Clara. He attended boot camp at Fort Bliss in Texas before being stationed at Fort Huachuca, Arizona.

After an honorable discharge from the U.S. Army, Dan worked for companies such as General Foods and 3M in the Twin Cities. He moved his family to his wife’s hometown of Thorp and became a partner in Area Equipment, a farm implement company. Mr. Kielkucki left the partnership and the family moved to Rothschild in 1978, where he worked for Swiderski Implement in Mosinee. He then returned to Area Equipment, driving an hour each day from Rothschild to Thorp and back again. Daniel continued to work as a partner/general manager of Area Equipment until his death.

Until his ailing health in recent years, Daniel enjoyed time golfing and traveling to the casino. He always had time to play a board game with his children, put puzzles or models together, and attended three Notre Dame Football bowl games with his son and youngest daughter. A good Catholic upbringing was important to Daniel and Clara, and both worked hard to provide parochial education to their children.

Survivors include his wife, Clara; four children: Charlene (Ronald) Staples, Spencer; Patrick (JoAnn) Kielkucki, Omro; Cheryl (Jay) Paulsen, Omro; and Cynthia Kielkucki, Chicago, IL; grandchildren: Spencer, Kyle, Grace, Greta, Gabrielle, and Claire; Step-granddaughter Jessica (Michael) Heintz, Neenah; Siblings: Patrick (Marge) Kielkucki, Bush, LA, Christine (Tom) O’Connor, Lindstrom, MN, Kathleen (Richard) Carlson, Minneapolis, MN, and Mary (Steve) Kroll, St. Paul, MN; many nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.

Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by his in-laws, Chester and Anna Zajack, Thorp.

The family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the ICU nurses at St. Clare’s Hospital, in addition to the ER team, Rothschild Fires Response and Fire team, Rothschild Police, and Dr. Al-Bacil for the extraordinary care and support they gave to both Daniel and the family.

A Memorial service will be scheduled at a later date.