Full Obituary

EUGENE F. ZAKRZEWICZ, age 87, of Thorp, WI passed away on Sunday, January 11, 2015 at The Wisconsin Veterans Home in Chippewa Falls, WI.


Eugene Francis Zakrzewicz was born on June 24, 1927 to Frank and Anna (Lewandowski) Zakrzewicz at their home in rural Thorp, WI. He attended a one room school in the Town of Roosevelt in Taylor County and later entered the U.S. Army in 1945. While stationed at Ft. Belvoir in Virginia, he was among the ranks of soldiers lining the route of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s funeral procession.


Eugene was united in marriage to Dorothy Wisniewski on September 4, 1948 at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church in Lublin, Wisconsin. Together they operated a successful dairy farm in the Town of Roosevelt in southern Taylor county. In addition to being an excellent herdsman and farmer, Gene, as he was known, was also an accomplished carpenter, electrician, meat cutter, and mechanic.


Gene was never happier than when he was fishing whether from the bank, in a boat, or on the ice. Often he caught fish while everyone else got skunked! More than one grandchild caught their first fish with “Grandpa Gene”.


He was an active member of the Lublin American Legion Post 547 and participated in their barbeque chicken dinners for many years until ill health forced him to quit.


Gene is survived by one sister: Loretta Zakrzewicz of Thorp; sons: Michael (Aggie) of Guymon, Ok; David of Thorp; Gene (Kathy) of Sheldon; Phillip (Charity) of Sayre, OK; and daughters: Connie Szak (Tony) of Thorp and Barbara Rhamey (Scott) of Coon Rapids, MN. He has 20 grandchildren and 26 great-grandchildren.


He is preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Dorothy in 2001; son, Kenneth in 2013; one brother, Robert Zakrzewicz; sister Rita Marcantonio and brother, Raymond in infancy.


Services were held on Saturday, January 17, 2015, at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church in Lublin, WI. Pallbearers were grandsons: Roger Zakrzewicz, Steven Zakrzewicz, Tony D. Szak, William Rhamey, Tom Zakrzewicz and Christopher Zakrzewicz. Gene was laid to rest in the parish cemetery, with his wife, Dorothy, and son, Kenneth.