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Joseph Ziabicki Obituary

RACINE - Joseph M. Ziabicki, 95, passed away on Tuesday, October 16, 2007, at Alterra Clairebridge, Kenosha. He was born on September 10, 1912, in St. Petersburg, Russia. As a child, he grew up in Finland and in 1918, the entire family moved to Warsaw, Poland, where he attended schools and received a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Warsaw (Polytechnic). After his previous marriage dissolved, Joe married Helga Knaebe in 1965, uniting them with her son, Dieter, from a previous marriage. In 1939, as Nazi Germany invaded Poland, Joe was inducted in the Polish Army as a Reserve Officer, and after four weeks of bitter fighting against invaders, he was captured and held in German captivity for five-and-one-half years. At the end of World War II, he joined the staff of IRO (International Refugee Organization) in Europe and from his office in Bremen, Germany, he processed over 100,000 European refugees for resettlement in the USA. Joe was employed by Massey-Harris Company designing tractors. After five years when the company moved to Detroit, Mich., Joe worked for Twin Disc Company in Racine. In the meantime, he developed his own business, Ziabicki Import Company, importing picture hangers from Germany, which still is in operation today. In 1968, Joe became a member of the Racine West Rotary Club. His extensive activities in Rotary resulted in being elected District Governor in 1982. Joe is survived by a daughter, Patricia (Joens Lange Sr.) Lange-Ziabicki; grandchildren, Dierk, Joens Jr., Patrick, Katharina, and Christian, all of Germany; nephew, Andrew and wife, Christina; grandniece, Joanna, all of Warsaw, Poland; grandnephew, Jacek of Chicago, Ill.; sister-in-law, Dora (Ewald) Mantay; nieces-in-law, Diana (Charles) Gretzinger of Racine and Jasmine (Steve) Fazzari and their children, Renee and Anthony, all of St. Louis, Mo.; step-son, Dieter and his wife, Jennifer; step- grandchildren, Elizabeth (Jason) Looker and Andrew, Derek; step-great-grandson, Cameron in Northern Wisconsin; and brothers-in-law, Egon (Marianna) of New York, Hans (Irmgaard), and Peter (Reu), all of Frankfurt, Germany. He is further survived by other relatives and many dear friends. Joe was preceded in death by his brother, Modest, who was murdered in the German concentration camp in 1943; and by his wife, Helga in 1991. There will be a Memorial visitation at the Sturino Funeral Home on Friday, October 19, 2007, from 5 until 7 p.m. Joe will have a private burial of his cremains next to his wife, Helga, in Graceland Cemetery. STURINO FUNERAL HOME (formerly Hanson Funeral Home) 3014 Northwestern Avenue 632-4479

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Racine Journal Times on Oct. 17, 2007.

Memories and Condolences
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3 Entries

Edward Stika

October 21, 2007

We have respected Joe as a friend and gentleman for many years. He lived a full and productive life. It is with deep regret to learn of his passing. We wish to extend our sincere sympathy to his daughter, Patricia, and her family in Germany. Our thoughts and love are with you at this time.
Dr. Edward and Carol Stika

Uncle Joe & Marta_at Marta's & Anders' wedding Jun 16 2001

Marta Ujma-Tornquist

October 19, 2007

Condolences to Joe's family! My thoughts and prayers are with you. Joe was such a wonderful man. He was like family to me. I called him "Uncle Joe" and we always spoke Polish to each other. I was a Rotary Exchange Student and lived in Racine back in 1990/91 - Joe helped bring me from Poland to the US and I was one of the first Polish exchange students who came to the US after the fall of communism. I would say that thanks to Joe, I fell in love with America and I currently reside in Denver in fact. Back in those years in Racine, I had a pleasure of meeting Helga (Joe's wonderful wife), her sister Dora with husband Ewald as well as Diana and Chuck whom I remember very well and think of often. Joe was a very special person in my life. How wonderful it was when he flew all the way to Warsaw, Poland just six years ago to be with us on our wedding day in 2001! He gave a beautiful speech at my wedding and I was honored by his presence. I and my family loved him very much. I had tears in my eyes when I found out today about his passing. I know that he is now in Heaven happy with his wife Helga. I pray for his soul. May he rest in peace! I am sending warm hugs to his family - I wish we could be in touch. Please feel free to contact me anytime
(e-mail: [email protected], tel. 1-720-870-6997).
Love,
Marta Ujma-Tornquist with family

October 17, 2007

Joseph M. Ziabicki's Family:

Our thoughts and prayers are with you all. Joe was a wonderful friend, client and a true Gentleman.

Gary Swiden, Dennis King, Ruth Ann Miller and Elaine Generotzky

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