Steven Joseph Budzeak

Steven Joseph Budzeak, 85, of Winona, died peacefully, Sunday, January 22, 2012 at his home. Steve was born July 23, 1926 near Ardoch, ND to Joseph and Mary (Narloch) Budzeak. He attended Catholic Convent School in Warsaw, ND and was a Merchant Marine under Coast Guard jurisdiction during WWII. He married Phyllis Melton on May 19, 1948 in Grand Forks, ND. They lived in the Winona area for many years. He worked at O'Laughlin Plumbing and Heating and farmed on the side for several years. He worked as a pipe fitter and steamfitter mainly in the power plant construction industry for most of his career. He was a member of the Eagles Club, American Legion and Steam Fitters Local 300 in North and South Dakota. He was a "top shelf" kind of guy and loved to visit with anyone and everyone. He enjoyed spending time with his friends, playing the harmonica, dancing and yodeling; he even won a yodeling contest. He loved his family very much and they meant everything to him.Steve is survived by four children, Raymond (Carol) of Espyville, PA, Sylvia Boehmke (Ian A. Paul) of Puyallup, WA, Linda (Curtis) Bailey of Ortonville, MN and Shirley Hausauer (Mike Riske) of Alma, WI; twelve grandchildren, Rhonda, Carol, Jimmy, Valeen, Aurora, Amber, Jeremy, Sarah, Tom, Jesse, John and Steven; many great-grandchildren; sister, Florence (Joe) Riske of East Grand Forks, MN; brother, Richard (Irma) of Fair Haven, MI; and many nieces, nephews and friends.He is preceded in death by his wife, Phyllis in 2001; a son, Daniel; his parents; and his brothers and sister, Adam, Frank, Henry, Sophie and Alex.Memorial Service will be 2 p.m., Saturday, January 28 at Hoff Funeral & Cremation Service - Hansen Goodview Chapel with Funeral Celebrant Douglas Hansen officiating. Burial of his cremated body will follow at St. Paul's Catholic Cemetery in Minnesota City. Visitation will be 1 p.m. until the time of the service. Please sign his online guestbook, leave a message of sympathy or view his video tribute when it becomes available at www.hofffuneral.com.
Tribute video can be found at: videos.lifetributes.com/279115