John C. Wozniak, 87, 2041 Briggs St., a retired senior vice president of the First National Bank, died Saturday, Oct. 16, 1999, at St. Michael’s Hospital.
Funeral services will be at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church with the Rev. Donald Przybylski officiating. Burial will be in Guardian Angel Cemetery.
Visitation will be held after 4 p.m. Monday at the Shuda Funeral Chapel. An American Legion and Disabled American Veterans ritual will be held at 6:15 p.m. and an Elks ritual will be held at 6:45 p.m. Monsignor McGinley Council #1170 of the Knights of Columbus, of which he was a life member, will combine with the general rosary at 7 p.m.
Mr. Wozniak was born March 3, 1912, in McKeesport, Pa., a son of the late Stanley and Rose Wozniak. He moved to the Plover area with his parents in June 1912. He attended local schools and graduated from Emerson High School in 1929.
He was married to Bernardine Prais on Aug. 9, 1941, at St. Stanislaus Church and settled in Stevens Point. She died April 3, 1973.
He started his banking career in February of 1930, working as a bookkeeper and teller at the Liberty State Bank, Pulaski. In 1932 he worked as an accountant for Newby Chevrolet and also in 1934-35 for G.A. Gullikson Co. in Stevens Point.
On June 1, 1935, he started in the bookkeping department of First National Bank until March 1943 when he was on leave to join the U.S. Army during World War II.
He served in the American European Theater and participated in five major campaigns, including the invasion of Normandy. After V.E. Day, he served with the army of occupation. He was discharged on Nov. 26, 1945, and returned to work at First National Bank.
He was promoted to vice president in January 1963 and to senior vice president in December 1968 in charge of home and farm loans. He held that position until his retirement March 2, 1977.
He was a member of the American Legion, Disabled American War Veterans, Elks Lodge, Knights of Columbus and served for many years on the Pacelli High School Advisory Board. He also served on Portage County Veterans Commission and was its chairman.
He was a member and past president in 1960 of the Stevens Point Noon Lions Club, receiving the Melvin Jones Fellowship Award from the club in 1989. He was also a director and treasurer of the Chamber of Commerce.
He was a graduate of the School of Banking at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He received his Wisconsin Real Estate Brokers license in April 1960 and maintained it for many years. He had been an honorary member of the Stevens Point Board of Realtors.
On March 21, 1977, he received recognition of Outstanding Contribution to local agriculture by the Agri-Business Action Group of the Central Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce.
Survivors include five sons, Brother John S. Wozniak FSC Ph.D., Tampa, Fla., Norbert E, Juneau, John A. (Cheryl), Grafton, David J., West Allis, and Joseph V., Stevens Point; six sisters, Mary Czerlanis, Chicago, Stella (Frank) Cwiklo and Sophie Kleppin, Wisconsin Rapids, Catherine Pliska and Helen (Stanley) Literski, Stevens Point, and Frances (Melvin) Lepak, Binghamton, N.Y.; and three grandsons.
He was also preceded in death by three sisters.
