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Kathleen Pekar Goebel

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Martin Joseph Pekar - RACINE - Mr. Martin Joseph Pekar, 86, passed away peacefully at his residence on Sunday, September 24, 2000, following a courageous battle with cancer. He was born in Kopcany, Czechoslovakia on July 9, 1914, son of Martin and Anna (nee: Zabadal) Pekar. He came to Racine in July of 1920 and had been a resident ever since. On September 14, 1940, in Holy Name Church, he was united in marriage with Catherine Gedemer. During World War II, he served in the Third Infantry Division in Europe. After the war ended, he was fortunate to visit his birthplace in Czechoslovakia to see his 80-year-old grandmother and other relatives. During his early years, Martin worked for Studey Dairy, Webster Electric, and Gorton Machine. In November of 1948, he became a United States Postal Clerk, where he was given an award for Superior Accomplishment. He retired in November of 1974 and then worked for M and I Bank of Racine as a Mail Clerk and Messenger. He was an honorary member of the National Association of Retired Federal Employees and, since childhood, was a member of the Slovak Gymnastic Sokol. He was a longtime member of St. Lucy's Parish. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Catherine; their children, Kathleen (Robert) Goebel, James (Susan) Pekar, and Joellen (David) Kozenski; seven grandchildren, Marie (Michael) Fowler, Patrick (Teri) Taylor, Anne (Ross Montana) Taylor, Amy (Kevin) Dahlen, Molly Pekar, Lauren Kozenski, and Joseph Kozenski; three great-grandsons, Connor Taylor, Matthew Fowler, and Kyle Fowler; sister, Mildred (Frank) Rymenams; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Ottilia Ruelle, Laverne (Al) Horton, Marian Gedemer, Jerome Gedemer, Joseph (Nel) Gedemer, Laverne Gedemer, Elizabeth Gedemer, Josephine Gedemer, and Geraldine Gedemer; and numerous nieces, nephews, and other relatives. He was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Anna Pekar and Elizabeth Scholzen; mother-in-law and father-in-law, Josephine and Joseph Gedemer; brothers-in-law, Norbert Gedemer, Richard Gedemer, Marvin Gedemer, Eugene Gedemer, and Earl Ruelle; and sisters-in-law, Loretta Gedemer, Virginia Gedemer, and Evelyn Hettig. The Funeral Mass will be celebrated in St. Lucy Catholic Church, 3101 Drexel Avenue, on Monday, October 2, 2000, at 10:30 a.m. with Rev. Jeffrey M. Thielen officiating. Entombment with full Military Honors will follow in Holy Cross Mausoleum on Highway 32. Visitation will be in the funeral home on Sunday from 4 until 7 p.m. and at the church on Monday from 10 until 10:30 a.m. In memory of Mr. Pekar, memorials may be made to St. Lucy's Church, St. Catherine's High School, Covenant Home Health and Hospice, or the South East Wisconsin Regional Cancer Center. A special note of thanks to the wonderful staff of Covenant Home Health and Hospice for the loving, compassionate care given during these past difficult months. DRAEGER-LANGENDORF FUNERAL HOME 1910 Taylor Avenue 637-6514