Surnames: Govek, Melavec, Johnson, Weytens, Mallmann, Yerey, Lesar, Follmar

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI.) January 14, 2009

Govek, Frank Leopold (10 February 1917 - 10 January 2009) With Flag

Frank L. Govek, 91, of Eau Claire, formerly of Willard, died Saturday, Jan. 10, 2009, at Luther Hospital in Eau Claire.

Frank Leopold Govek was born Feb. 10, 1917, in Willard to Frank and Apolonia (Melavec) Govek. He was raised on the family farm and received his education at Rocky Run School. Frank worked on the family farm until enlisting in the U. S. Navy in 1940. Frank was united in marriage to Margaret Eugenia Johnson Aug. 12, 1942, at All Saints Chapel Naval Air Station in Pensacola, FL. While Frank served in the navy, they lived in several cities, including San Diego, CA, Corta Modera, CA, Klamath Falls, OR and Bremerton, WA. After Frank’s discharge from the Navy, they lived in Sheboygan for a short time before moving to Milwaukee, where he worked as a mechanic for a Ford dealership. In 1950, they moved to Willard and took over farming the family farm. They sold the farm in 1975.

Frank also worked as a mail carrier in Willard from 1968 until retiring in 1981. He received the Wisconsin Rural Mail Carrier of the Year award in 1980. After retiring, Frank and Jean enjoyed traveling, including three trips to Slovenia in Europe, and spending the winter in Yuma, AZ, in 2004. They moved to South Bend, IN to be near their daughter, Carol. Jean died in South Bend Oct. 5, 2006. Frank then moved to Wausau for a year to live with his son, John, and has lived this past year in Eau Claire with his son, William.

He was a member of Holy Family Catholic Church, the Greenwood American Legion, a former member of the Knights of Columbus, a member of the K.S.K.J. Lodge #1 and the Slovenska Druzba Club and had served on the Greenwood School Board and the Greenwood Co-op Board. Frank had many interests but especially enjoyed making wine, preserving the Slovenian traditions in Willard by helping to organize the Willard Fall Festival each year, crossword puzzles, playing cards, reading books, particularly westerns and mystery novels, carpentry work and woodworking.

He will be sadly missed by his four children, John A. (Jane) Govek of Wausau, Mary Ruth (Dave) Weytens of Waukesha, William J. Govek of Eau Claire, Carol A. Govek of South Bend, IN; 11 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; one sister, Anne Mallmann of West Allis and one sister-in-law, Rose Govek of San Jose, CA.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one son, Frank Anthony Govek June 28, 1964; two sisters, Apolonia Yerey and Mary Lesar; and four brothers, the firstborn Frank, Joseph, Anton and Louis.

Funeral Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2009, at Holy Family Catholic Church in Willard with visitation from 9 a.m. until time of service. Fr. Joseph Follmar will officiate, and burial will follow in Holy Family Catholic Cemetery. Military rites will be conducted by the Greenwood American Legion Post #238.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.cuddiefh.com.

Cuddie Funeral Home of Greenwood is assisting the family with arrangements.