BioA: Staron, Mr./Mrs. Joseph (60th – 1971)

Transcriber: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Staron, Berg, Osowski, Seefeldt, Masalewicz, Opon, Kniter, Chmiel, Ziemba, Sypien, Bania, Nyckel, Dums

----Source: THORP COURIER (Thorp, Clark County, Wis.) 01 Jul 1971

Staron, Mr./Mrs. Joseph (60th – 30 MAY 1971)

On Sunday, May 30, 1971, Father Berg celebrated the 9:30 Mass at Holy Family Church (North) for the intention of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Staron, who observed their Diamond (60th) wedding anniversary. Three grandsons, Eugene, Timothy, and Randy Staron, escorted them down the aisle. Gregory and Mark Osowski, grandsons, served as altar boys. Mr. and Mrs. Staron renewed their vows and received a special blessing from the Pastor. Their youngest children, Lawrence and Mrs. Thomas Osowski, carried the offertory. A granddaughter, Mrs. David Seefeldt, sang "O Lord, I Am Not Worthy" during Communion.

A dinner, preceded by a cocktail hour, was served at one o'clock to about 140 guests at the St. Mary's Czestochowa Church parlors. Edward, a son, welcomed and thanked all the guests, then proposed a toast to the Jubilarians. Reverend Berg and Reverend Masalewicz, Towards the end of the meal, Fran, a daughter, read a brief account of their life:

"Joseph Staron was born in Kelbuszowa, Poland on May 2, 1888. His parents were Albert and Rosalia Staron. He was one of five children. At present he has to sister living in Poland. He came to the United States in 1905 at the age of 17 and lived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he had a job in a tannery. Two years later he came to Chicago and worked at the McCormick plant for seven years.

Josephine Ciolkosz was born in Wielepole, Skrzynskie, Poland on March 29, 1893. He parents were John and Anna Ciolkosz. She was one of ten children. At present she has two sisters and four brothers. She came to the States at the age of thirteen with her mother to join her father, who, at that time, ovned some land near Junction (Clark Co., Wis.). They arrived at the Stanley depot on July 4, 1906. She stayed with her parents for a year, then went to Chicago to seek employment. She worked at the Chicago Beach Hotel for three years.

Mr. and Mrs. Staron first met in Chicago while Mrs. Staron was visiting mutual friends, Mr. and Mrs. Albert Opon, with whom Mr. Staron was boarding. After a brief courtship, their marriage followed on February 18, 1911 at St Adalbert's Church on 17th and Ashland Avenue in Chicago by Reverend Kniter. Their attendants were Anna Chmiel, who is now Mrs. Ann Ziemba, and Louis Sypien, who has since passed away. They had a small reception at the home of her uncle, Vincent Ciolkosz. They moved into a flat on 18th Street, where Mrs. Staron took up her duties as a housewife. About two years later they were blessed with a daughter, Anne, the first child of a family of fourteen. In 1914 they packed their belongings and came to Thorp (Clark Co., Wis.), where they purchased 80 acres of land. This was mostly woods, so a spot was cleared on which they erected a home, and eventually a barn. As time passed more land was cleared for sewing and planting. In 1915 they welcome their second child, a son, John, and as years went by their family kept increasing. Meanwhile, they worked and cleared more land with the help of the growing children, and expended their home as needed, and added more farm buildings. Some years it was tough to make ends meet, with the depression some debts and doctor bills, but they managed food and clothing to carry them through. Eventually, the elder children left home to make their own living, thereby lessening the burden for their parents.

They are the parent of five sons and five daughters, have 50 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren."

Mr. Staron expressed appreciation and gratitude to the Father, the whole family and the rest of the guests. Then all present joined in singing "Jak Szyblka Mijaja Chevle" in Polish and English. After dinner, the group repaired to the hall across from the church, where there was music and dancing, and also refreshments.

The children, all present, are: Mrs. Walter (Anne) Bania, Thorp; John of Melrose Park, Illinois; Fran, Bellwood, Illinois; Mrs. Adelaide Dums, Chciago; Mrs. Henry (Eugenia) Nyckel, Bellwood; Fred, Berkeley, Illinois, Edward, Missoula, Montana; Adam, Bellwood; Mrs. Thomas (Lawrencia) Osowski, Thorp; and Lawrencee of Annandale, Virginia. Al the daughter-in-law and sons-in-law, thirty-eight grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren, as well as many other relatives and friends were present for this happy event.