Mike Bubla Jr., 92, Wisconsin Rapids Care Center, the father of a longtime former Stevens Point resident, died Saturday, April 26, 2008, at the Care Center, where he had been a resident since 2002.
Funeral services will be at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday at Ritchay Funeral Home in Wisconsin Rapids, with the Rev. Timothy Welles officiating. Burial in St. Leo's Catholic Cemetery in Adams-Friendship.
Visitation will be at the funeral home from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday and again from 10:30 a.m. Wednesday until the services.
Mr. Bubla was born Sept. 5, 1915, in Chicago, Ill., a son of the late Michael and Mary (Hluchanova) Bubla. He was raised in the town of New Rome in Adams County.
He served in the U.S. Army during World War II and was honorably discharged as sergeant with the 344th Bomber Squadron, 98th Bomber Group. He received several service medals and bars, along with the Presidential Unit Citation with an oak leaf cluster.
He worked in the Port Edwards paper mill for 38 years, from the late 1930s with the Forestry Department and in the Port Mill wood yard. He was promoted to fireman, then left for the Army in 1942. He returned to work in 1945 after the service. He was named powered fuel fireman in 1948 and head fireman in 1952. He retired in 1977.
He was married to Helen Kucera on Nov. 22, 1945. She died Nov. 21, 2003.
They resided in Wisconsin Rapids for all their married life.
Survivors include one son, Michael (Mary), Tucson, Ariz.; two daughters, Betty (Roger) Endres, Oregon, and Patricia (James) Rox, Wisconsin Rapids; five grandchildren; two stepgrandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
He was also preceded in death by three brothers, John, Frank and Charlie Bubla; and one sister, Mary Rezabek.