I hold it true, whate'er befall;
I feel it when I sorrow most;
'Tis better to have loved and lost
Than never to have loved at all.
... Alfred, Lord Tennyson
John Punjak
March 31, 1927--June 27, 2011
John J. Punjak, age 84, of Iron River, passed away on Monday, June 27, 2011, at Middle River Health Care Center in South Range. John was born March 31, 1927, in Minneapolis, Minn., the son of John and Anna (Kaminicke) Punjak.
He served in the U.S. Army during World War II in the 4285 Railhead Company as quartermaster in Metz, France. On Aug. 21, 1954, he was united in marriage to Winefred Steadman at Iron River. John was a welding supervisor for the Clyde Iron Works in Duluth, Minn. He was a member of the Iron River Lions Club, the Iron River Fire Department and the Iron River VFW Post 10197. He was an avid outdoorsman who loved to hunt and fish.
Survivors include his wife of 56 years, Winefred, of Iron River; a son, Jeffrey (Diane) of Iron River; a daughter, Peggy (Fred) Apodaca of Colorado Springs, Colo.; five grandchildren, Jason and Sarah Punjak, Leigha Givens, Ariel and Haeley Apodaca; three brothers, Andrew of Iron River, George of Colorado Springs, Colo., and Robert (Mickie) of Delafield; two sisters, Helen Erickson of Sussex, and Agnes (Ronald) O’Leary of Oconomowoc; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, William; and one sister, Mary.
A Memorial Mass for John will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, July 1, at Saint Michael Catholic Church in Iron River with Father Michael Crisp as celebrant.
Interment will take place in Saint Michael Cemetery, Iron River.
A gathering of family and friends will begin at 10 a.m. on Friday at the church in Iron River and continue until the hour of service.