Bio: Bukovec, John & Louise

Transcriber: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Bukovec, Sterbanc, Mencinger, Plautz, Beckman, Kokaly, Jelercic, Rozich, Chimiel, Winecki, Brunke, Knepper, Krultz, Topliker

----Source: Family Scrapbook

Joseph Bukovec was born on August 14, 1879 in Decina, Slovenja, Jugoslavia. He came to the United States in 1898 and settled in Ely, Minnesota where he worked as a miner in the ore mines.

Alozija (Louise) Sterbanc was born in June 11, 1883 in Stari Trg by Kupa, Jugoslavia. Louise came to the United States in November 1901. She worked at her cousin Adelesich's boarding house in Ely, Minnesota. Her cousin had sent Louise money for her ticket. She then went to Ljubljana and took a train to LeHavre, France where she boarded the ship that brought her to America. Joseph also sailed from this port, but came through Germany.

Joseph and Louise were married on January 26, 1902 in St. Anton's Catholic Church by Father Buh in Ely. On July 23, 1906 Joseph received his citizenship papers. As was the law then, Louise also received hers as his wife.

They heard about the Willard area through a newspaper advertising land. They moved to Willard on May 27, 1909 and purchased 60 acres of land. Later, they purchased an additional 40 acres of land from Mr. and Mrs. Mencinger. They then bought another 80 acres on what is now the Rock Dam road.

Tragedy struck in April of 1913. The early settlers cut trees in the winter and piled the brush to be burned in the spring of the year when they cleared land for plow¬ing.

Mr. and Mrs. Bukovec had been burning brush on a windy day. The older girls had gone to Catechism. Hav¬ing forgotten to buy matches to light a fire in the stove to make the noon meal, her parents sent seven year old Louise to get some coals from the brush fire with a small ash shovel. The wind blew her dress into the coals and her clothing caught fire. In her fright she began to run. Her father heard her screams and shouted to her not to run but she ran away from him. By the time he caught her clothes had burned from her body.

Dr. Beckman was called from Greenwood. He came out with a team. The horses were lathered with sweat because of the poor footing due to the muddy roads. He applied salve to her body and bandaged her, saying he would be back by train on Tuesday or Wednesday. This was late Saturday afternoon. She died at 3:00 A.M. the next morning, Sunday.

Mr. Steve Plautz had a horse and spring wagon. Louise's casket was loaded on the wagon. Her mother rode on the wagon with the casket and the rest of the family and neighbors walked behind to the church. A short service was held in the vestibule of the new church. Then she was taken by train to be buried in the Green¬wood cemetery as there wasn't a cemetery in Willard then.

Another tragedy in the family happened in 1923 when Joe, their only son at the time, went swimming. It was a hot Sunday afternoon. He was accompanied by neighbor boys, Joe Plautz, Tony Kokaly and John Jelercic. They walked to the old logging dam on the Eau Claire river northwest of Willard. Joe apparently suffered cramps while swimming and drowned.

The family also lost their farm home to a fire in the 1940’s.

Joseph and Louise had 11 children. They are now:
Mrs. John (Mary) Rozich - Willard (widow)
Mrs. John (Catherine) Chimiel - Cicero, Illinois (widow) Louise - deceased Joseph - deceased
Mrs. Leo (Margaret) Winecki - Chicago, Illinois
Mrs. Charles (Anne) Brunke - Cicero, Illinois
Mrs. Peter (Emily) Knepper - Hillside, Illinois (widow)
John - (wife, Mildred) - Chicago, Illinois
Albert - (wife, Christine) - Greenwood
Edward - (wife, Gertrude) - Willard, Wisconsin
Mrs. Selvian (Vicki) Krultz – Greenwood

Joseph and Louise Bukovec celebrated their golden wedding Anniversary in 1952 with all their children present for the occasion.

They farmed until 1963 when Joseph broke his hip. The farm was then passed on to their youngest son, Edward, and his wife Gertie (Topliker) who are presently farming it.

Joseph died June 12, 1965. At the time this was written, Louise celebrated her 98th birthday at Memorial Home, Neillsville, Wisconsin where she had been a resident for the past two and one half years. Louise passed away in 1981.

Crocheting was a hobby she enjoyed for many years. She was also an excellent cook and always had a beautiful garden.