Joseph "Joe" Wanczyk

Joseph "Joe" Wanczyk, age 92, of Wall, S.D., died Thursday, January 12, 2017, at the Rapid City Regional Hospital.

 

Joseph Lawrence Wanczyk, better known as "Joe" by his family and friends, was born December 19, 1924, to Michael and Agnes (Hart) Wanczyk in Denver, Colo. 

 

He attended grade school at Sacred Heart in Denver and graduated in June 1942 from Annunciation High School in Denver. Joe joined the Navy in January 1943, and served until coming back home in November 1945 where he was given an honorable discharge.

 

On June 10, 1947, he was united in marriage to June Weller at Sacred Heart Church in Denver. Vows were given by Father Martin J. Schulz. 

 

In August 1948, he decided to join the U.S. Army and was transferred to Germany. Joe was able to have June join him in May of 1950. They spent a year together there before coming home to Atlanta, Ga., in 1951.

 

They moved back to Denver in 1953, and Joe was released out of the Army with an honorable discharge. 

 

On December 3, 1954, a son, Gerard Joseph, was born in Denver. In 1957, the family moved to South Dakota to manage the Senechal Hotel with June’s father. When June's father passed away in 1962, they bought the hotel and continued to run it until January 1975 when they moved to California. 

 

In the years Joe and June lived in Philip, Joe was a member of the Knight of Columbus and a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Joe and June spent 15 years in California before coming home to Kadoka to care for June's mother. June's mom had to go into the nursing home where she lived until her death.

 

Survivors include one son, Gerard “Jerry” (Colleen Easter) Wanczyk of Wadsworth, Ill.; one grandson, Jordan Wanczyk of Arlington, Texas; two stepgrandchildren, Travis Easter of Wadsworth, Ill., and Cassandra Easter of Tokyo Japan; three sisters, Theresa Capra of Denver, Colo., Rose (Omer) Twehous of Arvada, Colo., and Mary (Tony) Barela of Durango, Colo.; numerous nieces and nephews; five half sisters; one half brother; and a host of other relatives and friends.

 

He was preceded in death by his wife, June; his parents, Agnes and Mike Wanczyk; sisters, Josephine Ferriter and Betty Jane Bauer; and one half brother.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established to the Philip Nursing Home.

 

Visitation will be held 4-5 p.m. Sunday, January 22, at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Wall, with a prayer service at 5:00 p.m.

 

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. Monday, January 23, at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Wall, with Father Tim Hoag as celebrant.

 

Military graveside rites will be held 1:30 p.m. Monday, January 23, at the Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis.

 

Arrangements are with Rush Funeral Home of Wall.