Anthony “Tony” Francis Jilek Age 81, of Birchwood, WI, died Monday, December 10, 2018 at the Marshfield Medical Center in Rice Lake, WI.

He was born on September 4, 1937 to Wenceslaus “Jim” and Marie (Pups) Jilek on the family farm in Birchwood and attended school in Birchwood. Tony was married to Barbara Widiker on September 5, 1959 in Birchwood. He worked construction for Vonasek and Schieffer in Rice Lake and later worked as a logger and a stone mason for many years. Tony loved spending time with his family, fishing and berry picking in Canada, gardening, building anything you might need or want, listening to polka music, playing cards, telling jokes, was the chef at summer cookouts and fish fry meals for neighbors and friends. He was an amazing husband, incredible father, grandfather, great grandfather, best uncle, best friend anyone could ever know. Tony will be greatly missed to all that knew him. Tony was a generous man who always gave of himself.

Survived by his beautiful wife, Barbara Jilek of Birchwood; 6 daughters and sons-in-law; Cindy (Bob) Knapmiller of Birchwood, Toni (Doug) Dakins of Barron, Patty (Greg) Fischer of White Bear Lake, MN, Peggy (Mark) Kohler of Birchwood, Betty (Mike) Ashlin of Rice Lake and Nancy (Trevor) Hovde of Colfax, WI; 20 grandchildren; 10 great grandchildren; a brother, Louis (Gloria) Jilek of Birchwood; a sister, Cecelia Halle (Glen) of Pittsburgh, PA; many nephews and nieces. He was preceded in death by his parents, Wenceslaus “Jim” and Marie Jilek; 5 brothers, George, Joe, Wenceslaus “Veno”, Theodore and Richard; 5 sisters, Mary Janda, Frances Smith, Alvina Raman, Lillian Widiker and Jeanette Socha. A Mass of Christian

Burial will be held at 12PM Wednesday, December 12, 2018 at St. John’s Catholic Church in Birchwood, Father Dave Oberts officiating, with interment in the Woodlawn Cemetery in Birchwood. Visitation will be held from 10AM-12PM Wednesday at the Church.

Appleyard’s Home for Funerals in Rice Lake is in charge of the arrangements.

Last Update: Dec 11, 2018 7:54 am CST