Obit: Grabara, George Joseph (1932 – 2016)

Contact: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Grabara, Higarth, Hukari, Murphy, Rosenlof, Barrick, Barton, Olson, Dix, Sowieja, Weiss

----Source: Tribune/Record/Gleaner (Abbotsford, Wis.) 04 Feb 2016

Grabara, George Joseph (30 JAN 1932 – 31 JAN 2016)

George J. Grabara Jr., 84, Greenwood, died on Sunday, Jan. 31, 2016, at the Clark County Rehab & Living Center in Owen. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at noon, on Saturday, Feb. 6, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Greenwood. Rev. Steve Brice will officiate. Cremainal burial will follow in St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery. Military rites will be conducted by the Greenwood American Legion Post #238. Visitation will be held at the church, on Saturday, from 11 a.m. until time of service.

George Joseph Grabara Jr. was born on Jan. 30, 1932, in Kenosha, the son of George J. and Mary (nee Higarth) Grabara Sr. He was raised and received his education in Kenosha and Milwaukee area schools until moving with his family to Greenwood in 1948. George entered the U.S. Army on Jan. 23, 1951, and served until his discharge on Jan. 18, 1954. He married Gaile M. Hukari on March 2, 1954, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Greenwood. They lived in Greenwood and George worked with his father in the family bakery. After his father’s death in 1970, George took over the operation of the bakery until retiring in 1998. He continued to reside in Greenwood until entering Clark County Rehab & Living Center in August 2014. He was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, and the Greenwood American Legion Post #238. George had many interests, but especially enjoyed target shooting, reloading ammo, playing cribbage and bowling in his younger years. George was named the Greenwood Citizen of the Year in 2005.

He is survived by his children: Mandy (Howie Rosenlof) Murphy of Greenwood, Tony (April Barrick) Grabara of Bosque Farms, N.M., Max (Olga) Grabara of Eau Claire, Fred (Hannah) Grabara of Madison, and Joan (Terry) Barton of Bothell, Wash.; nine grandchildren: Sam and Molly Murphy, Brittany and Ashley Olson, Jacob and Hailey Grabara, Racheal Thompson, Georgia Mae Grabara, and Garrett Barton; one great-grandson, Jaxon Dix; and nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

George was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Gaile, on April 14, 2010; and two sisters, Elsie Sowieja and Mary Weiss.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.cuddiefh.com.

Cuddie Funeral Home, Greenwood, is assisting the family with arrangements.