Obituary of Jacob Francis Trunkel

Jacob F. “Jack” Trunkel, 71, of Willard, Clark County, passed away surrounded by his family on Saturday, November 13, 2021 at his home under the care of Compassus Hospice of Marshfield.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 AM on Saturday, December 4, 2021 at Holy Family Catholic Church in Willard with Rev. Leo Johnson officiating. Committal services will be held by family at a later date. Family and friends are invited to gather at the church on Friday, December 3, 2021 from 4 PM to 7 PM and again on Saturday from 10 AM until time of services. The honor of pallbearer belongs to Jason Stroschein, Keith Volovsek, John J. Trunkel, Aubin Clark, Treyton Stroschein, Andrew Volovsek, Tristan Stroschein and James J. Trunkel.

Jacob F. Trunkel was born January 8, 1950 on the family farm in Willard, Wisc. to John F. and Sophie (nee Gosar) Trunkel. He attended Willard State Grade School in Willard and graduated from Greenwood High School in 1968. He married Sarah L. Craig on October 18, 1975 at Holy Family Parish in Willard. Jack was employed at Greenwood Homes, Stanley Volovsek’s Cabinet Shop, drove milk truck for North Hendren cheese factory and later became self employed as a carpenter.

Jack was very active in the community; he was the groundskeeper for Holy Family Parish and Cemetery for approximately 35 years. Jack enjoyed coffee breaks and visiting with people. He had many interests, but especially enjoyed working for people, making gunstocks, hunting, fishing, woodworking, his motorcycles, snowmobiles, and his first car-a 1968 Ford Torino, his UTV and volunteering at church. If it had wheels, Jack was interested. He enjoyed creating and building hobbies, volunteered as a chaperone for many years through Willard 4-H club as a project leader and also volunteered at St. Mary’s Catholic School doing whatever was needed as well as volunteering with the Rock Creek Disabled Outdoors association. He was a member of the Honda Red Riders Club for several years and an avid supporter of the Greenwood-Willard-Rock Dam Riders snowmobile club, maintaining a section of the snowmobile trail for about 30 years.

Jack loved life, sharing stories, other people and being thankful for the life opportunities he had. He was proud to be 100% Slovenian and had the chance to visit his “home” country in 2015. He will be dearly missed by his wife of 46 years, Sarah; his children, Candace (Jason) Stroschein of Altoona, Ashley (Keith) Volovsek of Neillsville and John J. (Michaela) Trunkel of Greenwood; five grandsons, Treyton and Tristan Stroschein of Altoona, Andrew Volovsek of Neillsville, Aubin Clark and James J. Trunkel of Greenwood.

Jack was preceded in death by his parents, John F. and Sophie Trunkel; his elder sister, Judith Andreason; a son, James Trunkel in infancy and in-laws, Thurman and Martha Craig; Linda Waldburger, David and Deborah Krultz and Richard Hyland.

In lieu of flowers, memorials in Jack’s name can be directed to St. Anthony’s Catholic School in Loyal.

His arrangements are under the care of Life Tributes Funeral Home-Spencer. Please visit www.lifetributesfuneralhome.com to share thoughts and condolences.