Portage County Historical Society
Service Personnel from Sacred Heart Catholic Church
IN MEMORIAM -- CAPTAIN ROBERT J. KLOPOTEK
Captain Robert J. Klopotek, son of Peter and Clara (Prodzinski) Klopotek, was born on February 9, 1921, in the Town of Stockton, Portage County. He attended Hillcrest Public School and Sacred Heart Parochial School at Polonia.
In 1938 he graduated from P. J. Jacobs High School, Stevens Point, Wisconsin. He also attended a short course in Agriculture at the University of Wisconsin. At the time he entered service, he was Field Man for the State Department of Agriculture.
Captain Klopotek left Stevens Point with the former National Guard in October 1940. In August of 1942, he joined the United States Army Air Corps at Santa Ana Air Base, Santa Ana, California. On May 20, 1943, he graduated from Advanced Flying School, Class 43-E at Luke Field Arizona, receiving his commission as Second Lieutenant.
He was stationed in England and France with the 9th Air Force, 356 Fighter Squadron, 354 Fighter Group. As pilot of the famed "Pioneer" Mustang and Thunderbolt fighter-bombers, he appropriately named his Mustang the "Mad Pole." Subsequently, he was promoted to First Lieutenant and later to Captain.
The Captain was the holder of the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with 23 Oak Leaf Clusters and the European Theatre of Operations Ribbon with five battle stars.
He completed 146 missions, having to his credit over 400 combat hours and 226 points. Serving 17 months in the European Theatre of Operations, he was also credited with destroying five enemy aircraft.
Captain Klopotek was a member of the Pioneer P-51 Mustang group, which received a Presidential Citation.
On December 1, 1945, he received his honorable discharge at the Sioux Falls, South Dakota separation center.
Captain Klopotek was married to Miss Charlotte Dustan, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. A. S. Dustan on August 24, 1944 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church at Polonia.
Since receiving his discharge he had been employed as a pilot by the Lullaby Furniture Corporation and operated the charter flight service.
On April 7, 1947, while riding as a passenger, he was killed in a plane crash in the vicinity of the Stevens Point Airport.
He was survived by his wife and a four-month old son, Terrill.
Servicemen Buried at Sacred Heart Cemetary
The names of these veterans listed below are buried in Sacred Heart Cemetery. They served in the Civil War, Spanish-American War, World War I, World War II, and the Korean War. Let us pray for the repose of their souls.
Civil War
- Kluczykowski, August
- Platta, John
Spanish - American
- Bigus, Anton
World War I
- Cineminski, Max
- Cychosz, Peter
- Grocholski, Barney
- Kozickowski, Nick
- Maslowski, Theodore E.
- Nitka, Anton
- Platta, Felix F.
- Rozek, Joseph
- Schulist, Martin
- Singer, Peter
- Tomaszewski. Anton
- Tomaszewski, Augustyn
- Wiza, Joseph
- Wyrowinski, John
World War II
- Bronk, Michael J.
- Charneski, Alois
- Ghisczynski, Leo
- Kezeske. Lawrence E.
- Klopotck, Robert J.
- Kranski, Leo N,
- Kropidlowski, Victor A
- Mocadlo, Peter
- Nitka, Alois T.
- Secosh, Chester S.
Korean War
- Richter, Leonard J.
Peace time
- Pochinski, Anton
SERVICE CAREER MEN
ELMER S. KOZELEK
(Staff Sergeant United States Army)
Elmer S. Kozelek, son of Mrs. Helen Kozelek and the late Mr. Frank Kozelek, was born in the Town of Sharon, Portage County. He attended General McGlaughlin and Sacred Heart Schools. After his graduation from Rosholt High School, Rosholt, Wisconsin, in 1950, he entered the Army.
He had two overseas assignments, both in Germany. Staff Sergeant Kozelek was also stationed in Fort Knox, Kentucky, Fort Hood, Texas, and Fort Carson, Colorado. He is presently assigned as United States Army Recruiting Officer in Stevens Point, Wisconsin.
Rhody Leo Nornberg
Son of Mr. and Mrs. Leo Nornberg, was born in the Town of Sharon, Portage County. He attended the Polonia Public School, Sacred heart Parochial School and graduated eighth grade from Mary Bradford, Stevens Point College. Captain Nornberg graduated from St. Norbert high School at West DePere, Wisconsin. After his graduation, he attended Central State College, Stevens Point, and the University of Michigan where he earned a B.B.A. Degree. Other schools he attended were the University of Wisconsin, Sacramento State College, California, and is presently attending the University of Dayton, Ohio, working on a Masters Degree.
Captain Nornberg is presently serving as a bomber navigator in the Strategic Air Command.
Glenn C. Souik
Son of the late Mr. George Souik and Mrs. Elizabeth Souik, was born in the Town of Sharon, Portage County. He attended Polonia Public and Parochial Schools and P. J. Jacobs High School, Stevens Point.
He entered the Army Air Force in November of 1942. After attending a radio school in Chicago, Illinois, he received his wings at Columbus, Mississippi in February, 1944.
Then his assignment was to a group of the famed Third Bombardment Division, which was cited by the President for England. He had been on bombing attacks against industrial and military targets deep within the Reich and flown on missions bombing enemy installations in front of the fast moving Allied troops in France. He was stationed at the Eighth Air Force B-17 Flying Fortress Base in England.
Lieutenant Glenn C. Souik was awarded the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Clusters and the Distinguished Flying Cross. He remained as an Air Force Reserve until 1958.
Stanley Omernik
Stanley Omernik, son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph J. Omernik, was born in the Town of Sharon, Portage County.
In July of 1937, Captain Omernik enlisted as a private in the Wisconsin National Guard After three years, in September 1940, he left the guards because of a conflict with his college education.
He enlisted in the United States Air Force on September 1942, in Pilot Training School, in the Southeast Command. He graduated as pilot with commission of 2nd Lieutenant in August, 1943, from the Advanced Pilot School at Selma, Alabama.
From 1943 to 1946 he participated in World War II as a fighter pilot. His tour of duty included 19 months overseas with the Eighth Air Force in the European Theatre. He completed 16 Air Missions over continental Europe. Captain Omernik was forced to bail out of his plane on the 17th mission while over enemy territory and was retained as a prisoner of war from May, 1944, to April, 1945.
Decorations and awards earned during World War II included: Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster; European Theatre Medal with Battle Star; American Theatre Medal; Purple heart Medal; and Victory Medal.
Separated from active service February 1946, He transferred to the Air Force Reserves for the next eight years.
In May of 1954, he returned to the 32nd "Red Arrow" Division, Wisconsin National Guard as 1st Lieutenant. He attended service school at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, during the summer of 1955, as well as the yearly summer encampments at Camp McCoy, Wisconsin. Captain Omernik was called into active duty during the Berlin Crisis of 1961-62 and spent 10 months with the division at Fort Lewis, Washington.
In 1964, his military career was completed. Captain Omernik retired with over twenty years of service with the Air Force, National Guard and Reserves.