Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
IRONWOOD, Mich. - William J. "Bill" Vokolek, 89, of Hurley, Wis., died peacefully Thursday evening, Oct. 12, 2017, at Westgate Nursing, Rehabilitation and Assisted Living Community in Ironwood, with his loving family by his side.
Bill was born July 3, 1928, in Nyack, N.Y., son of the late William and Marie (Pintrova) Vokolek, and graduated from high school in Spring Valley, N.Y. in 1948. He proudly served his country in the U.S. Air Force in Alabama, Korea, Alaska, Massachusetts and Vietnam until his honorable discharge as a Tech Sgt. in 1969. Following discharge from his career in the Air Force, Bill came to Hurley and worked at Sears in Ironwood and then in the sporting goods department at Giovanoni's True Value from 1973 to his retirement in 2001.
Bill was a member of St. Mary's Church in Hurley, Hurley American Legion Post 58, having served as past commander, and Iron Co. Veteran of Foreign Wars Post 1580. He was a past member of the Iron Co. Board of Supervisors. He enjoyed fishing, gardening, going to the casino and bird watching, and was a crossword puzzle fanatic. He especially enjoyed spending time with his kids and grandkids.
On Nov. 1, 1952, he was married to Mary Jane Bertagnoli of Hurley in Montgomery, Ala. She preceded him in death on Dec. 17, 1999.
Surviving are two sons, James (Carol), Montreal, Wis., and Roger (Karen Bach), Hurley; three daughters, Judy (Dave) Levra, Saxon, Wis., Grace (Randy) Fox, Burlington, Iowa, and Suzanne (Gary) Nevala, Montreal; 22 grandchildren; 28 great-grandchildren; two great-great grandchildren; and a daughter-in-law, Anna Vokolek, Pence, Wis.
Besides his parents and wife, Bill was predeceased by a son, George, in 2012.
Out of respect for his wishes, cremation has taken place.
Private services and inurnment will be in St. Mary's Cemetery, Hurley.
Arrangements have been entrusted to McKevitt-Patrick Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Ironwood. Bill's obituary can be viewed online and condolences given to his family at mckevittpatrickfuneralhome.com.
