Obit: Merkun, Johana #2 (1874 - 1974)

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

Surnames: Merkun, Zupec, Robertson, Koschak, John Grohek, Pirsh, Bachor, Knapp, Novak, Jackson, Skraba, Mertens

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 1/23/1975

Merkun, Johana (20 December 1874 – 18 December 1974)

Mrs. Johana Merkun, 95, (but according to dates given she was 99), a former Willard resident, died in Ely, Mn., December 18 in the Ely, Bloomington Hospital, according to belated word received here.

The funeral was performed December 20, from St. Anthony’s Catholic Church, with the Rev. Kenneth Jackson officiating.

Her body was brought to Willard and buried in the family plot in Holy Family Catholic Cemetery.

Graveside services were performed by the Rev. Michael Mertens, pastor of the Holy Family parish.

Pallbearers were: John Koschak, John Grohek, Anton Pirsh, Frank Bachor, Anton Knapp, and Joseph Novak.

Mrs. Merkun (Zupec) came to this country in 1902 from Yugoslavia, where she was born December 20, 1874. From Yugoslavia she went to Ely in 1902, and in 1903 she was married to Anton Merkum.

They came to Willard in 1909 and farmed in the Gorman area until Mr. Merkum died.

She retrained to Ely and made her home with her niece, Mrs. Hannah Robertson, for 26 years. She spent the last two years in a nursing home in Ely.

She is survived by a sister Mrs. Agnes Skraba; and by several nieces and nephews.

She was a member of the Mary of Perpetual Help Society, No. 174, of Willard, for 42 years.