Obit: Harycki, John Tolford (1933 - 2016)

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

Surnames: Harycki, Tolford, Andersen, Matz, Kalkoske, Pascarella, Young, Tennessen

----Source: Thorp Courier (Thorp, Clark Co., WI) 1/20/2016

Harycki, John Tolford (11 March 1933 - 10 January 2016) With Flag

John Tolford Harycki, 82, passed away peacefully Sunday, January 10, 2016, at his residence. A memorial service was held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 16, 2016, in Greenwood-Arlington Chapel, (Texas). John will be laid to rest this summer next to his parents in Thorp, WI.

John was born March 11, 1933, in Chippewa Falls, WI, to John “Jim” and Dorothy (Tolford) Harycki and grew up in Thorp, WI. As a young man, John distinguished himself as a baseball player but opted to pursue higher education initially at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, and later at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Thunderbird University in Phoenix, AZ. He earned three degrees and was a professor of three languages.

After serving in the U. S. Army, including 11 months in Korea, John married Jeanne Andersen of Chippewa Falls, WI, and raised five children. During that time, he pursued his career as an educator, culminating as a Spanish professor at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. In 1980, John moved to Fort Worth, Texas and continued to teach at Tarrant County Junior College and the University of Texas at Arlington.

After his retirement from his career as an educator, he published his memoirs as “Past Imperfect,” which highlighted his experiences as a young man growing up in small-town Wisconsin.

John was ardently interested in Hispanic culture and enjoyed numerous trips south of the border with friends and family over his lifetime. He spent a summer in Guadalajara, Mexico, to study Spanish in a Spanish-speaking country and gained true insight to living in that culture.

His other passions included sports, physical activity of many forms, and his Wisconsin Badgers. He also loved watching his son, Jim play sports and attended almost every game throughout his youth. In the more recent years, Grandpa John enjoyed watching his grandsons, Jackson and Cade, play baseball. He was known as the older gentleman who wasn’t shy to share his colorful commentary about each play of the game.

Up until last year, several afternoons a week, you could find John on the tennis courts. He made several lasting friendships with the regular group he played with over the past 10 years and often shared funny stories from the day’s match.

Another one of John’s true joys was traveling back to Wisconsin each summer to visit with family and friends and attend the annual Thorp High School reunion. Enjoying the summer Wisconsin weather by biking and playing tennis with friends would top the recreational activities during his visits.

Rest in peace, my friend, you lived a full life and did not leave anything on the table. May your journey ahead be filled with warm waters, racquets, bike trails and blue skies... and many Badger victories! Hasta que nos encontremos de Nuevo.

John was preceded in death by his parents, John and Dorothy Harycki.

He is survived by his children: Janelle Matz and husband, Les, of Anchorage, AK, Jill Kalkoske and husband, Todd, of Milwaukee, WI, Jacqueline Pascarella and husband, Don, of Oshkosh, WI, Jim Harycki and wife, Stacey, of Flower Mound, and Julie Harycki of Racine, WI. Grandchildren: Jackson, Cade, Leah, Nathan, Ellis, Lindsay, Nick and Max; and sisters, Tasia Young of Albuquerque and Susan Tennessen of Minneapolis.