Joseph Wochnik

LASTRUP -- Joseph Wochnik, 74, rural Pierz, died Saturday, Sept. 2, 2000, at the Veterans Hospital in St. Cloud.

He was born Dec. 14, 1925, in Holdingford to Anton and Agnes (Bursey) Wochnick. He attended Holdingford schools. In 1940, he moved with his family to Chicago. He served in the Army, 3rd Infantry Division, in Europe from 1943 to 1945. He also served in Korea in 1950. He married Margaret Kunzer on Sept. 25, 1949, in Chicago. After his discharge from the Army, he worked and lived with his family in Chicago. In 1991, they moved to Lastrup. Margaret died in 1994. He married Maxine Skiba in Pierz in 1998. He was a post commander of the Pierz VFW from 1994-1995 and was a life member of the VFW.

Survivors include his wife, Maxine; a son, Ken Wochnik, Orlando, Fla.; a daughter, Kathy Gagliardi, Orland Park, Ill.; two sisters, Mary Jane Tucker, Clovis, Calif., Lorraine Gordy, Fresno, Calif.; three step-sons, Richard, Robert and Jody Skiba, all of Pierz; three step-daughters, Chris Pomrenke and Betsy Embree, both of Royalton, and Carol Skiba, Brainerd; and three grandchildren.

His first wife; a step-son, Gene Skiba; five brothers, Celistine, Clarence, Alois, Claude and Frank; and three sisters, Florence, Dolores and Rita, died earlier.

Services will be 11 a.m. Thursday at St. John's Catholic Church in Lastrup with Father Roger Thoennes officiating. Burial will be in the parish cemetery.

Friends may call from 4-9 p.m. Wednesday at the Brenny Funeral Home in Pierz and from 9 a.m. until the service hour on Thursday at the funeral home. Parish prayers will be 8 p.m. Wednesday.