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Funeral services will take place on Monday, January 23, 2017 at 10:00 AM (Mountain).

St. Patrick's Catholic Church
Wall, South Dakota

1:30 p.m. Monday, January 23, 2017
Black Hills National Cemetery
Sturgis, South Dakota
4-5 p.m. Sunday, January 22, at the St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Wall, with a prayer service at 5:00 p.m.



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In memory of

Joseph "Joe" Wanczyk

of Wall, South Dakota, died on Thursday, January 12, 2017 at the Rapid City Regional Hospital at the age of 92

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

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 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, Georgia 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 Inn 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 IL; one grandson, Jordan Wanczyk of Arlington, TX; two step-grandchildren, Travis Easter of Wadsworth, IL and Cassandra Easter of Tokyo Japan; three sisters: Theresa Capra of Denver, CO; Rose (Omer) Twehous of Arvada, CO; and Mary (Tony) Barela of Durango, CO; 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 Hans P. Peterson Memorial Hospital in Philip.

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 held 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.


Open the Memorial Folder

VISITATION
4-5 p.m. Sunday, January 22, 2017
St. Patrick's Catholic Church
Wall, South Dakota

MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL
Monday, January 23, 2017 - 10:00 a.m.
St. Patrick's Catholic Church
Wall, South Dakota

CELEBRANT
Father Tim Hoag

MUSIC
Gene & Rita Patterson
“Ave Maria”
Congregational Hymns
“On Eagles Wings”
“One Bread One Body”
“Lead Me Lord”

EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS
Jody Bielmaier - Kevin Bielmaier - Wayne Shull

READER
Jody Bielmaier

PALLBEARERS
Travis Easter - Jordan Wanczyk
Teddy Hustead - Kevin Bielmaier
Tom Shull - Dave Curtis

HONORARY PALLBEARERS
All Relatives and Friends in Attendance

INTERMENT
1:30 p.m. Monday, January 23, 2017
Black Hills National Cemetery
Sturgis, South Dakota

  • I have many great memories of my younger years with Joe, June and Jerry. Joe will always be remembered. Potato pancakes. ~ Tom Gebes Pinedale WY (1/19/2017)
  • Thank you for your service ~ A Veteran (1/19/2017)
  • To my loving brother. Rest in peace brother dear. I will so miss our phone conversations, but I know you are in the arms of out Dear Lord and Blessed Mother. I will miss you terribly but I know you are with your beloved June. I love you. Love, your sister Mary ~ Mary Barela 620 E. 3rd. street Durango, Colo (1/19/2017)
  • Jerry, Jordan, Colleen. You are in our hearts and our prayers. love. Aunt Mary and Uncle Tony ~ Mary Barela 620 E. 3rd. street Durango,Colo (1/19/2017)
  • Jerry so sorry to here about your Dad my prayers are with you. ~ Mary Alice (Slovek) Mangen Broadus MT (1/19/2017)
  • To my loving brother. I love you and I miss you. I am happy you are in heaven with June and all of our family. Love Ya! ~ Midge & Omer Twehous Arvada, CO (1/18/2017)
  • Dear Jerry, Jordan, Coleen and family,
    I am deeply sorry for the loss of your Dad and Grandfather. Joe was a wonderful kind person in everything he did. I will keep you all in my thoughts and prayers. RIP Joe     ~ Stephanie Angeli Irving, TX (1/18/2017)
  • Rest in peace uncle Joe. We all love you. ~ Christine, Douglas, Anthony, and Blanca. Denver Colorado (1/18/2017)
  • To my Beloved Brother; I love you, and I miss you. You are now an Angel of God. Rest In Peace. Your loving sister Theresa. ~ Theresa Capra Denver Colorado (1/18/2017)
  • It was a pleasure to have known Joe and June while they lived in Wall. Visited with Joe almost every day at Prairie Village while sitting at the front door greeting everyone as they came in. They were very nice couple to have around as friends. God Bless them as join each other in our Father's home in heaven.
    Rest In Peace my Friend.     ~ Van & Cathy Simpfenderfer Wall, SD (1/14/2017)
  • Loved both of your parents so much. Wall will not be the same. Prayers and hugs to all. ~ Mary Jane Doyle Wall, SD (1/14/2017)
  • Jerry, So sorry about your dad. He was a kind and generous man.
    Many memories of him. Prayers are with you.     ~ Mitzi Houska Moscow, ID (1/14/2017)
  • Dear Jerry and family, I'm so sorry to hear of Joe's passing. He and your Mom were such kind people. Keep those memories close. ~ Karen Hanson Rapid City SD (1/14/2017)
  • Sending sympathy to Joe's family from the Moses. I know dad was good friends with them. We are sending prayers RIP Joe. ~ Bonnie Moses Nebraska (1/14/2017)
  • Jerry & Family, So sorry to hear of Joe passing. he was a special person. God Bless. ~ Ralph & Cathy Fiedler 2130 Ellen St. Sturgis,S.D. (1/14/2017)
  • Such a wonderful caring man. He is back with his beloved June. We will miss him dearly. ~ Bruce and Lynn Dunker and family Wall (1/14/2017)
  • Joe was a very kind and sweet man,he will be missed by all who knew him. ~ Jeanne & Marv Botz Wall (1/14/2017)
  • Joe was always so appreciative when I helped him at the Wall Building Center. I enjoyed him very much. He will be missed ~ Rose Luedeman Wall SD (1/13/2017)