Louie Sikora
Louie Sikora, 101, Cornell, passed away peacefully, Monday, Dec. 9, 2024, surrounded by his family, at what he called his only happy home.
Louie was born during the “Roaring ’20s,” July 23, 1923, to Bohemian immigrant parents, Joseph and Anna (Soukupova) Sikora, on the farm they called Ceska Farma Na Kosumberku, in the Town of Arthur, Chippewa County.
He started school in the one-room Drywood Creek Country School, only to repeat first-grade, because he did not speak English. After it was built, he attended the New School Country School, until eighth grade, when he was sent off to work, to help save the family farm during the Great Depression.
Louie was an early member of the ZCBJ Bohemian Hall, and belonged to their youth Sokol gymnastic team and joined the Civilian Conservation Corp, and was in the 2602nd Company at Camp Menomonie.
He enlisted in the U.S. Army-Air Force in Nov 1941. A month later, World War II started and he was stationed on Attu Island, in the Aleutians, for the remainder of the war, where he served with the 58th Fighter Control Squadron.
Louie returned home in November 1945, and the following spring, bought his first hive of honeybees and remained a hobby beekeeper until recently. He purchased the dairy farm he lived on for over 75 years, in 1948.
He married the love of his life, Anna Opdahl, in August 1950, and together, they raised six children during the Cold War and civil unrest of the 1960s. His grandchildren were born during the Digital Age of the 1980s, and the greatgrandchildren came into the polarized country of today. After retiring from farming, he took up woodworking, and made beautiful grandfather clocks for his children and many others.
Louie and Anna were known for their large garden that could feed half the neighborhood. They spent many evenings playing cards with friends and they also enjoyed traveling, especially enjoying the trips to Alaska, western U.S. and Canada.
He is survived by his wife – Anna of 74 years; children – Janet McArthur, Rapid City S.D., JoAnn (Greg) Parks, Cadott, David (significant other Kandy Morfoot), Gary (Eileen), Jack (Darla) and Daniel, Cornell; 19 grandchildren; 31 great-grandchildren; four stepgreat-grandchildren; sister – Josephine Stephens, Waupaca; sister-inlaw – Cindy Opdahl, New Richmond; and self-adopted children – Joe and Anita Ruger.
He was preceded in death by his parents; son – William (infancy); grandson – Christopher Sikora; son-in-law – Ron McArthur; brother – Charles; sisters – Victoria Morgal Gindt, Sylvia Kvapil and Edna Sikora; sister-in-law – Ingrid Berger; brothers-in-law – Albert Kvapil, Damis Morgal, Lawrence Gindt, Ralph Stephens, Nels Opdahl and Einar Opdahl; and in-laws – Emil and Helga Opdahl. The family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Home Instead, Lakeland Home Health and Hospice, and the Veterans Administration, for the compassionate care of our husband and father.
Visitation will be held from 9:30-11 a.m., Friday, Dec. 20, with a service at 11 a.m., at Leiser Funeral Home in Cadott, with the Rev. George Olinske officiating. Military honors will be held at the funeral home, following the service.
A private family celebration of life will be held at the ZCBJ Bohemian Hall, at a later date, with inurnment at the Bohemian National Cemetery, at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, a donation to the Heartland Hospice Foundation would be appreciated.
Na shledanou tata!
