Obit: Hribar, Walter J. "Wally" (1922 – 2016)

Contact: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Hribar, Denk, Suda, Zwaschka, Zitnik, Matijazik, Routar, Paredes, Dew, Eaton

Source: Marshfield News Herald (Marshfield, WI) 29 Feb 2016

Hribar, Walter J. "Wally" (5 DEC 1922 – 25 FEB 2016)

WALTER J. "WALLY" HRIBAR, age 93, of Greenwood, WI, passed away peacefully on Thursday, February 25, 2016 at the House of the Dove, in Marshfield. Funeral services will be held at 11am on Wednesday, March 2, 2016 at Holy Family Catholic Church, in Willard, WI. Rev. Steve Brice will officiate and burial will follow at Holy Family Cemetery. Pallbearers will be his grandsons: Allen Denk, Thomas Denk, Andy Hribar, Ben Suda, Joe Suda, Adam Zwaschka and Lucas Zwaschka. Visitation will be held at the church, on Wednesday, from 9:30am until time of service.

Walter Joe Hribar was born on December 5, 1922 in Willard, WI, to Frank and Anna (Zitnik) Hribar. His mother passed away when he was 4, and father when he was 9. His loving step mother Mary (Matijazik) Hribar, and caring older siblings continued to raise him on the family farm. Walter received his education at Gorman School and the Willard State Graded School. He worked on the farm, and for a short time, worked in Chicago at Stewart-Warner corporation.

Walter also worked in the wheat fields in North Dakota, and picked apples in Washington State, during the harvest season. He loved to play the game of baseball and went to spring training for the St. Louis Browns as a left-handed pitcher. In 1947 he played for the minor league Wausau Lumberjacks. He continued to play baseball with and against area teams, including Kidd's Kids in Owen, making relationships he so enjoyed. He ended his baseball career as a manager for the Greenwood team. Walter was united in marriage to Clara C. Routar on November 25, 1948 at Holy Family Catholic Church, in Willard. Together they owned and operated a dairy farm west of Greenwood, and also provided custom field work for area farmers.

Walter was a member of St. Mary Catholic Church. He enjoyed spending time with his family and friends, gardening, bowling, deer hunting, elk hunting out west, and following the Milwaukee Brewers.

He is survived by his children: Wally (Cheryl) Hribar of Prior Lake, MN, Mary (Gerry) Denk of Crystal Lake, IL, Kathy Paredes (Tim Dew) of Conroe, TX, Patti (Dennis) Suda of Spencer, Tom Hribar (Lynn Eaton) of New Prague, MN; twelve grandchildren; 8 great-grandchildren; one son-in-law: Tom Zwaschka of Willard; one brother: William Hribar of Willard; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents and step-mother; his wife, Clara, on April 23, 2012; his daughter, Joanne Zwaschka, on December 22, 2013; six brothers: Louis, Ludwig, Anton, John, Joe and Frank Hribar; and four sisters: Bernice Bruksch, Mary Volovsek, Olga Hedemark and Anna Marincic.

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

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