BioA: Potaczek, Mr./Mrs. Sebastian (Gold - 1963)

Contact: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Potaczek, Valegura, Slowiak, Kratochvil, Pogodzinski, Symbal, Staron

----Source: THORP COURIER (Thorp, Clark County, Wis.) 02/07/1963

Potaczek, Mr./Mrs. Sebastian (Gold - 20 JAN 1963)

Mr. and Mrs. Sebastian Potaczek celebrated their golden wedding anniversary on Saturday, Jan. 19, 1963, with a dinner reception and cance held at St. Mary’s Junction Hall. The jubilarians began their special day by attending St. Mary’s Church at Junction. The special mass, a gift of their children, and the yellow mums on the altar were in their honor. Four of their granddaughters escorted them down the aisle to their seats. A Papal blessing from Pope John the 23rd was administered Rev. Andrew Karoblis and the couple also received new rings to replace their own, which were lost years ago. A dinner was served in the church parlors at noon to 150 relatives and friends. Bouquets of yellow flowers, a beautifully decorated wedding cake and a four foot money tree were used as decorations. In the afternoon a reception was enjoyed by all. Supper was served to the immediate family and was followed by a dance in the evening.

The bride and groom of fifty years ago greeted their guests wearing a gold metallic dress, a corsage of yellow roses and gold accessories, and Mr. Potaczek wore a dark suit with a yellow rose boutonniere in the lapel of his suit.

They received many greetings and gifts.

The marriage of Miss Mary Valegura and Sebastian Potaczek took place on Jan. 20, 1913 at the St. George Church in Chicago. The only attendant able to be present at the celebration was Mrs. Peter Slowiak of Stanley. For the first few years of their marriage the couple resided in Chicago, then moved to a farm south of Stanley and visited in Europe with their parents and remained their parents and remained their nearly two years. But for over 40 years have farmed in the town of Thorp (Clark Co., Wis.).

A short while ago they decided to retire, however Mr. and Mrs. Potaczek enjoyed very good health and couldn’t stand the inactivity and are presently farming on a small scale on Route 2, Thorp. The Potaczek’s have 10 children as follows: Joseph of Cornel, Stephen of Chicago, Sylvester of Thorp, Alois of Tomahawk, Henry of Medford, Mrs. Ralph (Irene) Kratochvil of Thorp, Julius of Medford, twins, Bernard of Stanley and Mrs. Walter Pogodzinski of Thorp, and Mrs. Theodore (Bernice) Symbal of Stanley.

They also have 48 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren, Debbie and Diane Staron of Springfield, Ill.