Fencl, Henry J. 1916-2003

FENCL, PECINOVSKY, BOUSKA, KARNICK, NOCKELS, BONWELL, FARNSWORTH, LARSEN, STARR, ZALEN, MCGREW, BYRAM, O’SULLIVAN

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 1/7/2013 at 12:31:15

Source: Cresco Times-Plain Dealer June 18, 2003

Services held for Henry Fencl

Funeral services for Henry “Hank” Fencl of Lawler were held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 14 at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic Church in Lawler with Rev. Marvin Salz and Rev. George Karnik officiating. Interment was in Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Cemetery in Lawler. Pallbearers were his grandsons: Timothy Nockels, Steven Nockels, Justin Bonwell, Mark Nockels, Gregory Nockels, and Nathan Farnsworth. Honorary Pallbearers were: Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus members. Hugeback Funeral Home handled the arrangements.

Henry, 87, died Monday, June 9, 2003 at his home in Lawler of cancer.

Henry J. Fencl was born May 3, 1916 on the family farm in rural Winneshiek Co., near Protivin, the son of Frank and Marie (Pecinovsky) Fencl. He received his education at Holy Trinity School in Protivin and graduated from Rudolphinium High School in Protivin. In 1937, Hank left the farm for jobs in road construction and for Standard Oil Co. In 1940, he purchased one half partnership in a tavern and pool hall in Lawler.

On August 27, 1940 he married Mildred Bouska in the Holy Trinity Church in Provitin. In 1943, he was enlisted into military service with the 784th Anti-Aircraft Battalion under the 9th Air Force. He was assigned to Staff Sgt, in the motor transportation division. He served in England, Wales, France, Belgium, Luxembourg, and Germany. He was honorably discharged on December 15, 1945. In 1952, Henry purchased the Sand, Gravel & Earth-Moving business.

His wife Mildred died after a stroke on December 17, 1976. On December 29, 1978 he married Angela Karnick Nockels at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Charles City. In 1988 at the age of 72, he retired from his construction business.

Memberships and activities include the Knights of Columbus, Catholic Workmen, the Redman American Legion Post #279, Mayor of Lawler from 1950-1960, Chickasaw County Veterans Commission from 1975-1996 and an active member of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic Church in Lawler.

He is survived by his wife Angela; three sons: James Nockels of Oskaloosa, Paul Nockels of Blair, NE, and William Nockels of Plano, TX; one daughter: Mary Ann Bonwell of Waterloo; nine grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and one sister: Adela Larsen of Long Island, NY.

Henry was preceded in death by his first wife Mildred; his parents; seven sisters: Elizabeth Fencl, Frances Starr, Victoria Fencl, Marie Zalen, Theresa McGrew, Betty Byram, and Lillian O’Sullivan; and four brothers: Charles, Rev. Leonard Fencl, Alois, and Edward.

Transcribed from a newspaper clipping submitted by Janice Sowers.