Mary Rose Klak

Mary Klak, age 100, of Berlin, passed away on November 26, 2020 at Brown Wilcox Retirement Home surrounded with the love of her family. She was born on October 4, 1920, in Chicago, the daughter of Maximilian and Victoria Dobek Kucharski. Mary and her family returned to Poland in 1921, when she was 6 months old. In 1937 at the age of 16, Mary returned to Chicago. She did housework for a family in Chicago for $5 a week, eventually getting a job at Gibson Spring Company as an inspector. While working at Gibson, she went to night school at the YMCA where she learned how to speak English. She married John Klak on June 14, 1947 in St. Fidelis Catholic Church in Chicago and together they owned and operated a grocery store in Chicago. They moved to Wisconsin in 1950, acquiring a grocery store, slaughterhouse and locker plant, called “Klaks’ Locker Plant” in Kinker’s Corners. They eventually moved to the town of Marion and operated a farm, which they later sold to the DNR. In June of 1955, John and Mary operated and owned “Klak’s Shop and Save Grocery Store, Tavern, and Meat Market” in the Village of Lohrville. In 1975, they sold the business, retired, and moved to Berlin. Mary loved to travel, and made many trips to Poland to visit her family. She ESPECIALLY loved her grandchildren, John and Joshua. Mary was a member of St. Mark’s Catholic Church in Redgranite and St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Berlin, where she was a member of the Choir for over 20 years. She was a member of St. Mark’s and All Saints Council of Catholic Women {CCW}. Mary was also a member of the Redgranite Amvets Auxilary, and involved in Berlin in a Prayer Cenacle for over 15 years. Mary’s favorite season was summer, when she would spend hours in the gardens through the years. She loved her flowers, and loved to can her vegetables. Survivors include two sons, Richard {Carol} Klak of Green Bay, and Dennis Klak of Berlin; two grandsons, John D. Klak of Sun Prairie, and Joshua Klak of Madison; one sister, Stefania of Poland; a special niece, Helen Michalek of Chicago. Mary is also survived by other relatives, nieces and nephews and many friends. She was preceded in death by her parents;husband, John; four brothers, Stanley, John, Edward and an infant; two sisters, Helen and Jean; a special nephew, Gerald Michalek, Sr.; special cousins, Richard and Phyllis Sikora, Ray and Caroline Wesolek. The Klak Family would like to express their deep gratitude for the loving care given her by the entire Brown Wilcox staff, as well as Agnesian Hospice Care. They truly served her as “Family.” Thank you to the countless visitors who made the time to stop and visit Mary. Thank you to Father David Greenfield, for his love, prayers and support he always had for Mary. Thank you to Father Peter Auer, for his prayers and assistance on her final journey. The family also wishes to express heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Mark Jenson and Dr. David Budde, for their compassionate care and love. A mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, December 4, 2020 at 12:00 p.m. at All Saints Catholic Parish of Berlin with Father David Greenfield officiating. Burial will follow at St. Mark Catholic Cemetery of Redgranite. Family and friends may visit with the family and pay their respects to Mary on Friday, December 4, 2020 from 8:30 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. at which time a rosary will be recited. Family and friends are reminded of the CDC’s Covid-19 guidelines for funerals. Masks are required for both the church and funeral home, please respect social distancing, and please sit with family members only. Also in following the guidelines, there will be no luncheon served after the committal at the cemetery. Memorials may be addressed to All Saints Catholic Parish of Berlin.