Robert C Polski

Robert Polski, 91, of Viroqua, died Tuesday, May 26, 2015. Born in Nebraska April 18th, 1924 to Ignatius Augustus (Mike) and Marie Polski, Bob lived a long life until age 91, passing on May 26th, 2015. He lived through many major events and kept a sense of humor and positive attitude until his death. His early years were first in Ashton, Nebraska where his father was a banker. When the depression hit, the bank went under and the family moved to a farm. Bobs mother was the school teacher in the one room school he attended. He was able to ride his black pony "Susie" to school. His father, besides farming, also delivered mail in their Model T, going up and down the clay hills of Nebraska. Sometimes Bob helped with this. Bob had one sister, born when he was 14, Marion Ruth. They left the farm and moved to Loup City, Nebraska where Bob finished up high school. World War II began. He was in Kearney at college but was drafted. He served in the infantry as a mortar gunner which meant at age18, he had to carry a mortar gun on marches thru Europe during the last fall, winter and spring of WWII. He had many stories of his days in the infantry and later went to many reunions of his 104th Timber Wolf division. Bob returned to college and graduated. He was an accountant and teacher. He moved to Denver, which at that time, was considered a city of opportunity near the beautiful Rocky Mountains. He met his wife, Lillian, in Denver and they were married on June 14th, 1948. Lillian had moved to Denver from Collinsville, Illinois for the same reasons. They had two children, Jane M. Siemon and Micheal J. Polski. Bob worked most of his years at the Emily Griffith Opportunity School, a school teaching many trades to help people have better lives. He was administrator of the business department of the school. He was well liked there. At the same time, Bob joined the Air National Guard and participated one weekend per month along summer training. His division was put on active duty during the Berlin Crisis and also during the Vietnam war. He was the accountant for his guard unit. His third job was as a private tax preparer. During tax season, at the end of the work day, he saw three tax customers per evening and six on Saturdays. His wife, Lillian, helped him type up all the returns. Bob loved fishing and often took his children. He and Lillian had a little piece of the mountains where we went for picnics. Later, he built a cabin near Leadville that the family enjoyed. He also loved gardening. Every house he lived in, he planted fruit trees. His last Denver house had 5 peach trees, 2 apple trees, grapes, and a cherry tree as well as a healthy patch of horseradish. He and Lillian carefully picked and canned peaches, which we all enjoyed. He was also a wine maker, learning from his Dad. He especially loved to make chokecherry wine collecting the chokecherries near Morrison, Colorado. It was hard for Bob to leave his home of 40 years in Denver, but he did come to Viroqua in 2011 with Lillian, who passed after only one month. He spent the next 4 years in his duplex home. He enjoyed getting know Viroqua with his daughter Jane. He continued his love of good food and gardening. He always had a ready joke. He was generous to many in his lifetime. Bob suffered a stroke during the night, after most of the family had been together for a dinner where we took pictures of him with all his great grandchildren. He passed away one week later after all the family had a chance to say goodbye and reminisce. He is survived by his son Dr. Micheal J. Polski, daughter Jane M. Siemon, and his sister Marion R. Kelly as well as five grandchildren and five great grandchildren. Funeral Services will be held at 3:00 p.m. June 23, 2015 at St. Marys Catholic Church in Viroqua. Monsignor Francis Abuah Quansah will officiate with Military Honors to follow at the Viroqua Cemetery. Friends may call at the church from 2:30 p.m. until time of service at 3:00. Online Condolences may be offered at www.VossFH.com The Vosseteig-Larson Funeral Home of Viroqua is serving the family.