Bio: Champa, Louis & Stephania

Transcriber: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Champa, Arcko, Dechman, Bergant, Telkes

----Source: Family Scrapbook

Louis Champa came to the United States from Slovenia on January 6, 1927. He stayed with his brother- in-law and sister, Peter and Mary Belay for a short time then went to Bingham Canyon, Utah where he worked in a copper mine with his cousin Francis Arcko. During the summer of 1929 he returned to Willard and on October 12 of that year married Stephania Dechman. They return¬ed to Utah.

In September of 1931, they again came to Willard and settled on forty acres of land given them by her parents. Louis built a house and barn and bought an additional 120 acres of land. In 1949 he bought the John Bergant farm.

Six children were born to this union. Louis Sr. passed away in July of 1972. Stephania lives in Stanley, Wiscon¬sin.

Frank Jr. lives in Elk Grove Village, Illinois. He married Carol Miller. Stephanie married Henry Telkes and lives in Chicago. Louis Jr. is married and lives in Chicago also. Sylvester is married and lives in Rochester, Minnesota. Nancy is married and lives in Racine. Michael was married and lived in Chicago. In July of 1973, he was killed in a boating accident at Fox Lake, Illinois. Frank now owns the farm.