John Fred Walkowicz, Waupaca, Wisconsin, formerly of Almond, Wisconsin was born in Illinois on May 22, 1920 to John and Margaret (Gruender) Walkowicz. When he was still a young teen he owned and operated a newsstand in Chicago. When he was 17 he went to Missouri to work on his aunt and uncle’s farm. He developed a real love for farming there.
He served in the U.S. Army from 1941 to 1945. He gained the rank of Sergeant. He was in the 163rd, 41st Infantry Division. He was a fighting Jungleer.
John was a sports fan. He loved to watch almost any game. He especially liked the Packers, Brewers, and Bucks. But he always held a special place in his heart for his first love, The Chicago White Sox!
On May 5, 1945, John married Margaret Izral in Waukegan, IL. They were married for 63 years. They had 5 sons. After leaving the service John worked as a machinist for a couple of years. In 1947 they bought a small farm in Amherst Junction, WI. In 1949 they decided to move to a farm in Almond, WI. They farmed there until 1994, when they sold the farm to their son, David. They then moved to Waupaca, WI. John still continued to drive tractor on the farm until 2010.
After retiring from the farm, both John and Marge volunteered at the Wisconsin Veterans Home in King, WI. John’s love of machines even followed him there where he worked repairing wheelchairs.
John is survived by: five sons: John Walkowicz of Ogema, WI; Ed Walkowicz of Waukesha, WI; Paul (Kay) Walkowicz of Weston, WI; James (Jade) Walkowicz of San Francisco, CA; David (Rita) Walkowicz of Almond, WI; grandchildren: Natasha Shea of Monroe, NY; Major Tiffany Benford of Pearl Harbor, HI; Tanya Hurst of Seattle, WA; Sherry Walkowicz of San Diego, CA; Christopher (Michelle) Walkowicz of La Crosse, WI; Jennifer (Ben) Greenwood of Jacksonville, FL; Katie Walkowicz of Milwaukee, WI; William Walkowicz of New York City, NY; Rebecca (David) Sweet of Pewaukee, WI; Craig Walkowicz of Stevens Point, WI; great-grandchildren: Bryice Greenwood, Madison Greenwood, Waylon Sweet, Savanna Shea, Sophia Shea, and Henry Walkowicz; step-grandchildren: Kelly (Scott) Mootz Wallace, Ryan (Penny) Mootz, Tara Stormoen, Ken Vosekuil, and Joe (Amy) Olson; step-great-grandchildren: Elizabeth, Alex, and Scotty Wallace; Rebekah and Zachary Mootz; and Jayme, Carly and Emily Olson. John was preceded in death by his parents, John and Margaret Walkowicz; his wife, Margaret “Marge” Walkowicz; and three brothers, Herman, Art, and LeRoy.
A Funeral Service will be on Monday, December 3, 2012 at 11:00 AM at the Hardell-Holly Funeral Home in Almond, WI. Father Paul Vanden Hogen will officiate. A visitation will be held on Monday from 9:00 – 11:00 AM at the funeral home. Burial will be at Hope Cemetery in the Town of Belmont following the service on Monday. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Almond American Legion Post # 339 or to the Wisconsin Veterans Home-Volunteer Services in King, WI. The Hardell-Holly Funeral Home of Almond is assisting the family with arrangements. www.hollyfuneralhome.com