Obit: Piwoni, Marvin S. (1923 - 2017)

Transcriber: Robert Lipprandt
bob@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Day, Ester, Lakhani, Lippa, Major, Melanczuk, Peleschak, Piwoni, Piwoni-Lippa

----Source: The Star News (Medford, WI) 5/27/2017

Piwoni, Marvin S. (25 MAR 1923 - 25 MAY 2017)

Marvin S. Piwoni, age 94, of Gilman, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family at Mayo Health System in Eau Claire on Thursday, May 25, 2017.

Marvin was born on March 25, 1923, the third child of Teofil and Alice (Melanczuk) Piwoni in the Town of Taft. He attended Red Brick Grade School and graduated from Thorp High School, a member of the class of 1940. He was a charter member of the Thorp Future Farmers of America (FFA) and served as the chapter secretary.

He was employed in Chicago for a year in the early 1940s but returned to help on the family farm after his two brothers volunteered for WWII. Marvin met his sweetheart, Katherine Peleschak, when he asked her for a dance at the Thorp Legion Hall on July 3, 1941. They dated for five years and on June 9, 1946, at Holy Assumption Orthodox Church in Lublin, on secrated a marriage that was to last for nearly 71 years.

Marvin worked at the Bellinger Dairy for a short time and logged with his father. In the spring of 1952, the couple purchased a farm in rural Gilman and raised MAR-KATH registered Holstein cattle. For 32 years, he worked for several large asphalt highway construction firms throughout Wisconsin and northern Illinois, rising crew foreman, and was a proud member of Operating Engineers Local 139 for over 63 years. Upon retirement, he purchased and drove a school bus for the Gilman School District. One of Marvin’s passions was baseball and he played shortstop for the Thorp and Lublin baseball teams for many years. One fan was remembered saying, “the way Piwoni rounds the bases, you’d think he had twin engines.” He also loved to bowl and won a state championship, but most of all, he loved to dance. Favoring old time music, the couple danced at venues around the state for over 65 years.

Survivors include his wife, Katherine of Gilman; a sister, Marcella Major of Deming, N.M.; five children, Dr. Marvin (Kelly) Piwoni of Champaign, Ill., James (Kathy) Piwoni of Milwaukee, Dr. Richard Piwoni of Antigo, Marilyn (Tom) Day of Eau Claire and Dr. Karilyn (Brian) Piwoni-Lippa of Rochester, N.Y. He also leaves behind nine grandchildren, Michael (Kari) Piwoni, Jim (Abbey) Powini, Richard (Megan) Day, Brian (Danielle) Day, Dr. Betsy (Tyson) Ester, Sarah (Samir Lakhani) Piwoni and Alexandra, Seraphina and Maribella Lippa; and eight great-grandchildren, Keason, Will, Brady, Ellie, Arya, Evelyn, Thomas, Juliet and a new baby girl due any day.

Marvin was preceded in death by three brothers, Joseph, John and Edwin; and three sisters, Virginia, Marjorie and Patricia.

He will be remembered as a loving and providing husband, father, good friend and a kind, humble and gentle man.

Funeral services were held on Monday, May 29, 2017 at 11:30 a.m. at Holy Assumption Orthodox Church in Lublin. Burial followed in the church cemetery. Friends were able to call at the Gilman Funeral Home on Sunday, May 28 from 4-8 p.m. with a 7:15 p.m. Pankahida service.

Plombon Funeral Home, Gilman is serving the family.