Obit: Koschak, Ignatius (1907 - 1978)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Koschak, Francel, Ternus, Parkel, Wall, Rinholen, Kroph, Helensky, Knutel, Lamovec, Lesar, Houston

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 4/27/1978

Koschak, Ignatius (18 July 1907 – 14 April 1978)

Ignatius Koschak, 308 South White Street, Greenwood, did at 3:20 a.m. Friday, April 14, at St. Joseph’s Hospital. He was 70 years old. He was born July 18, 1907, in Ely, Minnesota, and attended rural schools in Willard. Before his marriage, he worked at the North Hendren Cheese Factory. He married Frances Francel, October 19, 1932, in the Holy Family Catholic Church in Willard. She survives.

He owned and operated the Bellinger Dairy in Thorp from 1942 to 1947. He then operated a cheese factory “The Blue Moon” plant in Owen; operated Parlys Cheese Factory in Athens; and later moved to Greenwood to manage the Greenwood Milk Products Factory, retiring in 1968. A well-known cheesemaker Koschak received the Governors Sweepstake for the highest quality cheese in Wisconsin in 1947.

He was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church and the K.S.K.J. Slovenian Society.

Surviving besides his wife are five daughters, Mrs. Donald (Barbara) Ternus of Wausau, Mrs. Frank (Kathlene) Parkel of Stoughton, Mrs. Thomas (Bernadine) Wall of Kimberly and Mrs. Gary (Mary Jo) Rinholen of Mondovi; five brothers, Louie of Waukegan, Il., Ludwig of Jacksonville, Fl., Frank of Willard, Stanley of Santa Monica, Ca., five sisters, Mrs. Charles (Jennie) Kroph of Greenwood, Mrs. Charles (Christine) Helensky, Mrs. Tony (Angeline) Knutel both of Waukegan, Il., Mrs. Henry (Ann) Lamovec of Eau Claire; and Mrs. Mary Lesar of Willard; and nine grandchildren.

Funeral services were held Monday, April 17, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, with the Rev. Robert Houston, pastor, officiating and burial was made in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Greenwood. The pallbearers were David Koschak, Donald Lesar, Henry Lamovec, Jr., James Francel, Arthur Francel and James Koschak.