Stanley W. Zalewski 79, of Eagle River and Green Valley, AZ, formerly of Antigo, died peacefully Friday, November 23, 2007 at his home under the care of his family and Ministry Home Care Hospice.
He was born August 26, 1928 in Milwaukee, to the late Stanley "Steve" and Sally (Szymaszek) Zalewski Sr. On November 8th 1952 Stan and Shirley Ann Heckert were married at St. Hyacinth's Catholic Church in Antigo.
A 1946 graduate of Antigo High School, he and his brother, Marvin, owned and operated Zalewski Bros. Inc. Potato Farm in the Antigo area. For over 50 years they grew certified seed potatoes and were potato brokers. He was also Secretary of the Wisconsin Seed Growers Association.
He began in the potato business with his "pa" in 1932 when he was just four. Potatoes were in his blood. He was a long time member of the Wisconsin Potato and Vegetable Growers Association and Antigo Elks Lodge 662. He was a member of St. Germain Evangelical Free Church.
His passions included fishing and hunting. As soon as his grandsons showed any signs of wanting to hunt; papa found them a "good" gun. He also learned to love golf and encouraged everyone else to join him in this pursuit...something he once thought was "a really stupid game". Along with hunting, fishing and golf, he was a great card player, loved to play "Catch Phrase" and most of all he loved having people over for fresh fish. He, along with Mom. made everyone feel as though they were part of the family.
His grandkids were his delight and he was always happy to respond to their request of "Papa, tell us a story about when you were a little boy". This inevitably led to hours of wonderful stories. Stan loved telling jokes and would have family and friends in tears over his tales of Ollie and Sven, or reading the letter from the Polish mother to her son.
Papa, his families' favorite name for him, was an affectionate man and was famous for his love pats to his wife, daughters and grand-daughters.
In addition to his wife of 55 years, Shirley Ann, he is survived by:
Three daughters
Debra (Rick) Schuette, Green Bay, WI
Laurie (Kirt) Schmidt, Montello, WI
Melanie (Steve) Wanner, Wausau, WI
Daughter-in-law:
Joyce (Martin) Brown, Mequon, WI
Three sons:
Dan Zalewski, Polar, WI
Dave (Elysheva) Zalewski, Polar, WI
Patrick (Jeannie) Zalewski, Antigo, WI
Two brothers:
Ron (Sue) Zalewski, Pelican Lake, WI
Jim (Jackie) Zalewski, Boise, ID
20 grandchildren, and 5 great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, a grandson, Jonathon Luke Zalewski and a nephew, Steven Zalewski.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 A.M. Tuesday, November 27, 2007 at the Antigo Community Church, Third Avenue and Deleglise Street, Antigo. Pastor Kirt Schmidt will officiate.
A visitation will be held Monday from 3:30 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. at the Bradley Funeral Home, Hwy 45, Antigo. Antigo Elks will conduct a Lodge of Sorrow at 6:00 P.M. and visitation will continue Tuesday from 9:30 - 10:30 a.m. at the Antigo Community Church.
A Memorial has been established for Hospice, Marquette Community Church and St. Germain Evangelical Free Church
The family is thankful for this wonderful man who was husband, dad, grandpa, uncle, cousin, nephew, and friend. Thanksgiving night was spent around his bedside with each of the family sharing special memories of 'papa'. He passed peacefully into the arms of His Savior, Jesus Christ, Friday morning.

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