George Sroda, 93, Amherst Junction, Amherst Junction's most noted resident known as the "Worm Czar" and a Portage County pioneer who photographed the area for more than 40 years, died Tuesday, Aug. 31, 2004, at Crystal River Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Waupaca after a brief illness.
A Funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 8, at St. James Catholic Church in Amherst, with the Rev. Robert Pedretti officiating. Interment will be in the St. James Catholic Cemetery in Amherst.
Visitation will be at the Jungers-Holly Funeral Home in Amherst from 4 until 8 p.m. Tuesday and from 9 a.m. Wednesday until the procession leaves for church. A rosary service will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.
A memorial has been established in his name in lieu of flowers.
Mr. Sroda was born April 3, 1911, in Stevens Point, a son of the late Frank and Johanna (Okray) Sroda. His parents operated a grocery store just off of the Public Square in Stevens Point. They moved to Amherst Junction where they continued to operate a grocery and general merchandise business. He helped manage the store.
He graduated from Amherst High School and while in high school he had a dance band called the Virginians. He managed the family feed mill, the only feed mill in Amherst Junction.
He then started a turkey farm in Amherst Junction, selling hand-processed turkeys called Sroda Oven Ready Turkeys across the nation. His white turkey feathers were made into various ornaments sold at the Laboratory, with many going to some Hollywood stars.
He then started the Magic Worm Bedding Business, selling various products like worm bedding, Worm Food and Worm Holding Kits and became known as the "Worm Czar." In 1975 he sold the worm business, then called Magic Worm Bedding Co., and continued to operate the Worm Laboratory, the largest research worm laboratory in the nation.
Mr. Sroda, along with "Herman The Worm," a large worm that became a TV celebrity, appeared as guests on 22 national TV shows, including "The Tonight Show" and "The David Letterman Show." He and appeared on these shows with 45 celebrities and was also aired on more than 500 radio stations.
He edited two worm books, "Facts About Nightcrawlers" and "The Life Story of TV Star, Herman The Worm."
Sroda was interested in photography and spent 63 years as a free-lance photographer, with many of his photographs from Portage and Waupaca counties appearing on the front pages of magazines and the state and regional pages of Wisconsin's largest daily newspapers. He was a member of The Wisconsin Press Photographers Association for over 60 years and was a paid-life member of the Press. He also received the State of Wisconsin Certificate of Commendation, signed by Gov. Tommy Thompson.
He was married to Susan Rekoske on June 19, 1934, at St. Mary of Mount Carmel Catholic Church in Fancher. She died Aug. 3, 1998.
He was a member of St. James Catholic Church in Amherst.
Survivors include two sons, Richard (Linda), Yucca Valley, Calif., and Thomas (Joann), West Allis; and six grandchildren.
He was also preceded in death by three brothers, Eric, Joseph and Felix; and one sister, Wanda Wanserski.