Henry H. Duda, 86, 2121 County Trunk E, Junction City, a former Portage County sheriff, the former owner of several area night clubs and a former Golden Gloves champion boxer, died Wednesday, April 9, 2008, at his home. He had been under the care of his family and Ministry Home Care-Hospice Services.
A Funeral Mass will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at St. Peter Catholic Church, with the Rev. Kevin C. Louis officiating. Burial will be in Guardian Angel Cemetery.
Visitation will be at the Pisarski/Dzikoski Funeral Home from 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday and in the St. Faustina Room of the church from 10 a.m. Monday until the Mass. A prayer service will be held at 7 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.
Memorials in his name to the Boys and Girls Club of Portage County, PO Box 171, Stevens Point, WI 54481 would be appreciated in lieu of flowers.
Condolences may be offered online at www.pisarskifuneralhome.com.
Mr. Duda was born May 5, 1921, in the town of Linwood, a son of the late Michael and Anna (Pazignot) Duda. He attended schools in the town of Linwood.
Between the ages of 16 and 19 years old, he held four Golden Gloves Boxing titles.
He entered the U.S. Army on Oct. 15, 1940, in Stevens Point and served as a corporal with the 129th Field Artillery. He served in New Guinea and the Southern Philippines. Henry received the Bronze Star Medal, Good Conduct Ribbon, American Defense Service Ribbon, Asiatic Pacific Theatre Ribbon with two Bronze Battle Stars, Philippines Liberation Ribbon with one Bronze Battle Star and five Overseas Service Bars. He was also the army's 32nd division boxing champion. He was honorably discharged on July 13, 1945, at Fort Sheridan, Ill.
He was married to Kathryn Mills on Feb. 15, 1947, at St. Peter Catholic Church.
He was the Portage County sheriff in the early 1950s. He also worked for Asphalt Products Co. for seven years. He farmed in the towns of Carson and Linwood for more than 50 years.
He owned and operated two night clubs, The Platwood Club in the town of Carson and Poor Henry's in Stevens Point, which later became The Outer Limits.
Survivors include his wife, Kathryn Duda, Manteno, Ill.; two sons, David, Manteno, Ill., and Dan (Ann Marie), Junction City; four daughters, Sandy (Ron) Roth and Paulette (James) Higdon, both of Stevens Point, Suzanne (Jeff) Riegel, Momence, Ill., and Erika (Tony) Plaski, Junction City; two brothers, Edward (Theresa), Rudolph, and Roy (Margo), Stevens Point; one sister, Irene Joswick, New Berlin; 14 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
He was also preceded in death by two sons, Kevin and Henry "Ron;" five brothers, Joe, Bruno, Walter, Alex and Raymond; and one sister, Helen Zak.