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John Francis Stanek, 97 of Muscoda, died peacefully surrounded by family on April 15, 2023. He was born on March 26, 1926, in Muscoda the son of Jan and Marie (Biba) Stanek. John served in the US Army for 2 years as a sergeant spending time in California, Japan, and Korea. John continued to stay connected with his unit buddies after leaving the army. In 2013 he had the honor of traveling to Washington DC with Vets Roll out of Beloit which was a very memorable experience for him. He was united in marriage to Helen Kosharek on September 17, 1956, at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Muscoda. John was a devout Catholic and served multiple years on the church counsel. John had a passion for farming and shortly after getting married bought the farm up the road from his parents farm. John farmed for many years, raising registered Holsteins and was very active in the farming community participating in various farming organizations. He was a leader in the Green Meadows 4-H club and enjoyed helping his children show cattle at the Grant County Fair, the Muscoda Harvest Festival, the Black and White Show and the State Fair. After his retirement from farming, he went to work at Lands' End for 20 years. John was also a Town Supervisor for Castle Rock Township for 29 years. John liked to spend time hunting and fishing, he especially enjoyed his fishing trips with family and friends to Canada. He enjoyed his many trips over the years with his wife and brothers Paul and Carl and their spouses. He always took the opportunity to play cards and spend time with family and friends. John was very proud of his Czech heritage, he grew up speaking Czech and would periodically throw a few Czech words in when talking to you, just to keep you on your toes. One favorite saying was Na zdraví - to your health. He traveled to the Czech Republic in 1998 with family and friends and felt fortunate to be able to visit relatives and spend time at the home place. John was a loving husband, dad, grandpa and great grandpa. He had a positive impact on many other people's lives.



John is survived by his wife Helen, of 66 years; 8 children: Deborah (Robert) Schneider of Muscoda, James (Marianne) Stanek of Richland Center, Diane (Keith) Streich of Hubertus, Darlene Stanek of Spring Green, Daniel (Brenda) Stanek of Muscoda, Marie (James) Schwingle of Spring Green, Theresa (Christopher) Noble of Blue River, Gerald (Michelle) Stanek of Muscoda; 17 grandchildren; 12 great grandchildren; sisters: Annamarie McGuire of Pardeeville, Dorothy (Richard) Hackl of Muscoda; sisters-in-law: Bernice Stanek of Muscoda, Helen Stanek of Spring Green, Mary Lou Stanek of Madison, Margaret Pasold of Blue River, Karen Kosharek of Platteville, nieces, nephews, many other relatives and friends.



John was preceded in death by his parents, his father-in-law and mother-in-law Harold and Emily Kosharek, sisters Mary (John) Kohout, Alice (John) McGuire, brothers Joseph (Marcella), Carl, Paul, William (Mary), Donald and Francis, brothers-in-law Robert McGuire, Marion Kosharek, and son-in-law Jay Colbeck.



Funeral services will be held on Saturday, April 22, 2023, at 11:00 AM at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church. Muscoda American Legion Post 85 will provide military rites following the mass. Burial will be held in St. John's Catholic Cemetery at a later date. Visitation will be held on Friday, April 21 at the Godager Pratt Funeral Home in Muscoda from 4:00 PM until 7:00 PM with a rosary to be prayed at 3:45 PM, and again on Saturday, April 22, 2023 from 10:00 AM until the departure to the church at 10:45 AM. The Pratt Funeral and Cremation Service is assisting the family with their arrangements.