Charles A. Simurdiak

Charles Simurdiak, 96, De Pere, passed away peacefully at Rennes Health Rehab Center on Friday, May 6, 2011. Born the fourth of twelve children, “Charlie” was a son of immigrant parents from what is now Slovakia, who bought farm land near Phillips, Wisconsin. The land was poor and rocky, and he spent his childhood helping to remove virgin timber pines, picked loads of stone to clear fields for farm land, did farm work and chores. Charlie spoke a western Slavic dialect to his parents who never learned English, which is basically a mix of Slovak, Czech (Bohemian) and Polish. The only source of farm income was cream, and his father had to work in logging camps. As he grew older, Charlie worked jobs like harvesting cranberries in a bog to help the family buy harnesses for the horses. Later, he worked all winter in a log camp sawing down hemlock with a two-man saw for ten cents a log, split between them plus room and board. When he returned, his mother asked him to buy a horse for the farm again taking most of his money. It was 1933, during the great depression, when Charlie left home with an eighth grade education and went to Chicago with his older brother, Frank. They hopped a train west riding on top of a box car all night where he almost lost his life when he fell asleep and nearly rolled off. He was able to find work near Baker, Montana, on a wheat farm and was proud to be able to buy his ticket back home. He returned west with two friends driving a Model A Ford, but the Dust Bowl had hit hard during the worst drought in U.S. history. He ended up near Genesee, Idaho, plowing land, first with a team of 17 horses and then a caterpillar. Upon his return, Charlie was stunned to see the family barn had burned down and stayed the year to help rebuild. He then returned to Chicago where he eventually met and married his wife, Helen Van Der Aue in 1939. He started out pumping gas and then worked in several machine shops. He also worked in a war plant that made B17 bombers during WW II. His brother stayed out west and was able to secure a Gambles hardware store in Libby, Montana. Charlie decided to buy out a branch store, and in 1951 he moved his family to East De Pere, WI, to live above a very small Gambles store located at 123 S. Broadway. He enjoyed it, especially meeting the people, but he struggled to survive in business for ten years. Eventually, he sold out to Macco’s and began to work the night shift as a machinist for Appleton Machine, and then for Paper Converting where he was honored with an award one year for top lathe machinist. He retired from Paper Converting in 1977. Charlie loved working on the house they purchased in 1957; installed indoor plumbing, replaced old windows, did insulating, plastering and painting, and tinkered for many years with the furnace to make it more fuel efficient. He also worked in the garden, fixed his vehicles and did bodywork, and rebuilt engines. He played cards, enjoyed Lawrence Welk music, and cut firewood until he was in his early 90s. Charlie was always positive and hardworking. He died of complications of congestive heart failure, and was preceded in death by his wife, Helen, in 2005, after 66 years of marriage. He is survived by seven of his eight children: Sandra (Chuck) Hartl, Roger Simurdiak, Linda (Carl) Clark, Bruce Simurdiak, Ellen Gonnering, Marcia (Jeff) Arndt, and Brian (Trudy) Simurdiak, (a daughter, Noreen, died in infancy); eight grandchildren: Scott, Ross, Janel, Curtis, Tyler, Nicholas, Dawn, and Jessica; seven great-grandchildren: Joshua, Amanda, Kristina, Joshua, Rebecca, Samantha, and Buddy; and the newest member of Simurdiak family, great, great-grandson, Damien. He is also survived by three of his younger brothers and sisters: Francis, Mary, and Joe. Family and friends may call Wednesday, May 11, 2011 from 9:30 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, 220 S. Michigan St., De Pere. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at the church on Wednesday 11:00 a.m. with Fr. Patrick Beno officiating. Entombment will be at the Shrine of the Good Shepherd Mausoleum. A luncheon will be held at the Father Dolski Center following mass where family and friends will get together to reminisce about a long and happy life. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the local Salvation Army. Cotter Funeral Home, De Pere is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be expressed at www.cotterfuneralhome.com.

Reception:
The Fr. Tony Dolski Parish Center
220 S. Michigan St.
De Pere, WI 54115