Marvin Lishka

1923 - 2017

Lishka, Marvin

Marvin Lishka, a lifelong resident of Manitowoc, 94 years old, died of cardio-respiratory failure Sunday morning, September 3, 2017 at his residence in the Villla Court, Felician Village, Manitowoc.

Born April 10th, 1923 to Clara and Albert Lishka of Manitowoc, he had one sister, Dorothy Lishka Bartel (who passed away in 1971). He graduated from Lincoln High School in 1941, and trained as an Apprentice Electrician, to enlist in the U.S. Army into the 157th Field Artillery Batallion (seeing combat in France from October 1944 and Germany until the war's end in 1945). After the war he returned home, to marry Pearl Bailey, eventually having two children, Dennis born in 1946 and Nancy in 1950. Nancy died of a heart condition in 1967 while in high school. Marv went to work at Mirro Aluminum as an electrician for several decades; next working at the White House Milk Company as an industrial electrician; finally managing the same facility as a warehouse for Federal powdered milk stocks for the American Milk Producers Institute until retirement. He then care for his wife Pearl (who died of advancing amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in 1991 at age 71). Marv married again, to Dorothy Loritz in April 1993. They were a happy couple who traveled widely together, but then he became her caretaker as she died of a brain tumor in the year 2000.

His lifelong passion has been singing, especially his membership in the Barbershop Harmony Society, in choruses and quartets for the past 45 years, and he was a longtime member of the Men's Choir at Holy Innocents and St. Francis parishes. He has performed a moving tribute to American GIs in World War II at the Manitowoc Barbershop Christmas Show, describing a Christmas in bleak battlefield Wittringen, France, where his troops put together an altar and had Mass in a bombed out church, concluding his story by singing "Silent Night" in Polish, to be joined by his fellow chorus members singing it in German, and finally everyone singing in English.

Marv is survived by his son and daughter-in-law: Dennis (Katie) Lishka, his grandsons: Christopher (Andria) Lishka and Benjamin Lishka, and three great-grandchildren: Maya, Maxwell and Eloise, step son and daughter-in-law: David (Karen) Loritz, three step grandchildren: Peter, Mamie and Steven; and his close companion, Jackie Matuszak..

Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, September 8, 2017 at St. Francis of Assisi on Waldo (1121 North 14th Street) Manitowoc. Officiating at the Mass of Christian Burial will be the Rev. Dave Pleier. Burial will occur at Calvary Cemetery, Manitowoc. Graveside Military Rites will be accorded by AmVets Post #99.

The family will greet relatives and friends at St. Francis of Assisi on Waldo (1121North 14th Street) Manitowoc, from 9:00 a.m. Friday, September 8, 2017 until 10:45 a.m.

Expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family by visiting www.pfefferfuneralhome.com

The Pfeffer Funeral Home, Manitowoc, is assisting the family with funeral arrangements.