Person Page - 198

     Peter Norstrant was born circa 1807 at NY. He was the son of Isaac Norstrant and Mary Churchill. Peter Norstrant married Mary Sherman. Peter Norstrant died before June 1880.

     Mary Sherman was born on 21 October 1816 at Boonville Town, Oneida Co, NY. She married Peter Norstrant, son of Isaac Norstrant and Mary Churchill. Mary Sherman died on 6 January 1885 at Stevens Point, Portage Co, WI, at age 68.

Article published in the Saturday, January 10, 1885 issue of the Stevens Point Journal, Stevens Point, Wisconsin. Actual date of death: Tuesday, January 6, 1885.

Mrs. Mary Norstrant died at the home of her son in the Fourth Ward on Tuesday morning, aged 69 years. The funeral was held from the Methodist church on Thursday afternoon, Rev. Bosworth officiating. The deceased was born in Bruneville, Oneida Co., N.Y., Oct. 21, 1816, removing to Wisconsin in '56 and to Stevens Point about eight years ago. Some six years ago she injured one of her limbs, from the effects of which she never fully recovered, and since August last has suffered terribly. The deceased leaves two daughters and two sons, Wm. and Jerome, to mourn her loss. She made her home with her son Wm. and her son-in-law, Dan Quimby.

     Michael Zmudzinski was born in May 1833 at Poland. He was the son of Andreas Zmudzinski and Maryannae (?) Michael Zmudzinski married Anna M. Michalski.¹ Note: This family can be found in the 1880 Federal Census, Portage County, WI, Hull, page 13, line 29. Michael Zmudzinski died on 8 July 1903 at Town of Hull, Portage Co, WI, at age 70. He was buried on 10 July 1903 at Town of Hull, Portage Co, WI.

Article published in the Wednesday, July 15, 1903 issue of the Portage County Gazette, Stevens Point, Wisconsin. Actual date of death: Wednesday, July 8, 1903.

Died in Hull

Michael Smudzinski (sp.), an old resident of the town of Hull, died at his home on Wednesday last after a short illness, aged 71 years, and the funeral was held from the Casimir Catholic church Friday morning. The deceased is survived by three sons, Lawrence, Ed. and John, and four daughters, all of whom are married except one, Miss Cecelina Smudzinski, who lives at home.

     August Raschke was born on 8 May 1842 at Poland. He married Veronica (?) August Raschke died on 25 September 1932 at Stevens Point, Portage Co, WI, at age 90.

Article published in the Monday, September 26, 1932 issue of the Stevens Point Daily Journal, Stevens Point, Wisconsin. Actual date of death: Sunday, September 25, 1932.

August Rasky (sp.)

August Rasky of Montgomery, Minn., aged 81, who had been visiting at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Anton Kruza, 406 Smith street, the past six weeks, died at 11 o'clock Sunday evening at his daughter's home. He had been in ill health since coming here and the past three weeks was confined to bed.
The body was taken by hearse to Montgomery this morning and funeral services will be held there. Mr. and Mrs. Anton Kruza, Mr. and Mrs. Alois Kruza (sp.) and Anton Kruza, Jr., will attend the funeral.
Mr. Rasky was born in Poland on May 8, 1941, and was married in that country more than 60 years ago. He brought his family to the United States in 1888 and they lived in Chicago the first seven years. They moved to Montgomery in 1895, and had lived there since. Mr. Rasky was planning to spend this winter in Stevens Point.
Surviving are his widow, in Montgomery, his daughter, Mrs. Kruza, a son, John Rasky of Lee Center, Minn., and another daughter, Mrs. Clements Guessen of Montgomery. Three children preceded Mr. Rasky in death.

August Raschke was buried at Lexington, Le Sueur Co, MN.

     John Seraphin Okray was born on 18 December 1914 at Stevens Point, Portage Co, WI. He was the son of Alois John Okray Sr. and Frances Barbara Raflick. John Seraphin Okray married Irene Pearl Schultz, daughter of Anton Schultz and Helen H Stoltz, on 18 May 1936 at Stevens Point, Portage Co, WI. John Seraphin Okray died on 19 December 1976 at Stevens Point, Portage Co, WI, at age 62.

Article published in the Monday, December 20, 1976 issue of the Stevens Point Daily Journal, Stevens Point, Wisconsin. Actual date of death: Sunday, December 19, 1976.

John Okray, potato industry leader, dies

John Okray, long leader in Central Wisconsin's potatoe and vegetable industry, died at 6:37 a.m. Sunday at St. Michael's Hospital, where he had been a patient for three weeks.
He was 63.
Mr. Okray, who lived at Route 2, Stevens Point (Town of Carson), was vice president of the Okray Produce Co., Plover.
The Okray firm, founded by his uncle, Joseph Okray Sr., and his father Alois Okray sr., is believed to be the oldest potato grower and dealer in Wisconsin and still one of the largest.
It was founded in 1905, and in the 1950s it helped bring in new methods of well drilling which revolutionized irrigated agriculture in this part of the state. Its land holdings are primarily in the Towns of Plover and Grant, Portage County, and in Juneau County.
John Okray was born Dec. 18, 1914, in Stevens Point, and attended St. Peter's Grade School and Emerson High School here. He had been with Okray Produce since.
On May 26, 1936, he was married at St. Peter's Catholic Church to Irene Schultz. They moved to their present address 27 years ago.
Mr. Okray was president of Plover Farms, a farmland owing subsidiary of Okray Produce, and vice president of Okray Enterprises, a real estate subsidiary.
He was president of the Wisconsin Potato and Vegetable Growers Association in 1953-54 and was a former member fo the Stevens Point Board of Education.
Mr. Okray was a director of the First National Bank, a member of the Central Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce and a 4th Degree member of the Knights of Columbus. He was also a member of St. Peter's Holy Name Society, the Elks and St. John's Court NO. 1807, Catholic Order of Foresters.
He and his firm were instrumental i nthe decision to film 'Wisconsin's Central Sands,' a movie on irrigated farming in this part of the state completed this year by University of Wisconsin-Extension.
In 1973, Mr. Okray and his cousin, Edward Okray, president of Okray Produce, wer among nine persons honored by the American Potato Co., for their contibutions to the potato industry in Wisconsin.
Mr. Okray is survived by his wife, his mother, Mrs. Frances Okray, of Sunny Vale Nursing Home, Wausau; three sons, Larry, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada, Mike, Route 2, Stevens Point, and Tony, at home; two daughters, Mrs. Thom (Marlene) Ness, Route 1, Plover, and Mrs. Michael (Jeanette) Dragolovich, Breckenridge, Minn; eight grandchildren; two brothers, Chester, 1817 Main St., and Alois Jr., Route 2, Stevens Point; and five sisters, Mrs. Voilet Jurgella, 201 2nd St. N., Mrs. Carl (Bernice) Kitowski, 801 Franklin St., Mrs. Edwin (christine) Witkowski, Milwaukee, Mrs. John (Rita) New, Springfield, Ill., and Mrs. Peter (Constance) Barnard Maple Bluff Drive, Town of Hull.
His father preceded him in death.
Funeral services will be held at St. Peter's Catholic Church Tuesday at 11 a.m., and burial will take place in Guardian Angel Cemetery.
Friends may call now at the Dzikoski Funeral Home. A general rosary will be said there tonight at 7, with the KC's, the Holy Name Society and the Foresters participating. An Elks ritual will be conducted at 8.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested spiritul bouquets and memorial contributions.

     Rose Sharkowska was also known as Rose Szarkowska. She was born in 1878 at Town of Hull, Portage Co, WI. She married Jonas (John) Peter Schultz, son of Martin Schultz and Catherine Laskoski, on 2 May 1898 at St. Casimir Church, Town of Hull, Portage Co, WI. Rose Sharkowska died on 21 October 1963 at Elgin, IL.

Article published in the, Tuesday, October 22, 1963 issue of the Rhinelander Daily News, Rhinelander, Wisconsin. Actual date of death: Monday, October 21, 1963
Mrs. Schultz, 85, Dies in Illinois
Mrs. Rose Schultz, 85, a former resident of Rhinelander and the mother of Steve Schultz, 719 W. Phillip St. died Monday morning at Elgin, Ill., following an extended illness.
Mrs. Schultz, the former Rose Sharkowska, was born in 1879 in Stevens Point. She left the city about 12 years ago.
Survivors include two sons, Steve of Rhinelander and Leonard of San Francisco; two daughters, Jean Martin of Dundee, Ill., and Lucille Meyer of Milwaukee, and three grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at 9 a.m. Thursday in St. Mary’s Catholic Church with the Very Rev. Wilfred Fries officiating. Burial will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery. Friends may call at the Hilderbrand Funeral Home after 2 p.m. Wednesday: rosary will be recited at 7 p.m.