EUGENE G. MROTEK

Eugene G. Mrotek, age 87, of 1231 S. 20th St., Manitowoc, died
on Sunday evening, June 8, 2008, at Holy Family Memorial Medical
Center, Manitowoc.
Gene was born on April 23, 1921, son of the late Alex and Pauline
(Korlesky) Mrotek. He attended Lincoln High School, Manitowoc.
Gene joined the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus.
Gene's years as a circus performer are divided into two segments,
before and after World War II. At the outbreak of World War II,
he was performing in Havana, Cuba. He was home only a week when
he was hired at the Manitowoc Shipbuilding Company where his
father and five brothers were already working in the shipyards.
Before he was drafted, Gene enlisted in the Army Air Corps, but
was placed in the Army. He trained at Camp Swift, Texas, and Camp
Polk, La. He took part in desert maneuvers in Arizona and
California and took mountain training in West Virginia. He sailed
to England aboard the SS America and landed there about a week
after the invasion at Normandy. He was in France with the 3rd Army
and was hit in several places by shrapnel when crossing the Moselle
River. He was also injured in Germany, this time more seriously.
His unit was preparing to attack the Siegfried Line on the German
western front. Gene spent a week in a field hospital and then went
back to his outfit. He fought in the Battle of the Bulge and ended
his army service as a Staff Sergeant with the new 9th Army. He was
awarded two purple hearts and a bronze star.
After the war, Gene returned home, and continued his acrobatic
training with the Billy Schultz Circus. After a few years at home,
he rejoined the circus as a "catcher" for the Yacopi Troupe, the
man that caught the acrobats as they descended from their lofty
perches. Gene has many photos from his time in the circus, but
three that stand out are the three that involve famous stars. The
first is one of him with a terrified Jimmy Duranti on his shoulders.
The second photo is of the troupe with Bob Hope at the Shrine
Auditorium in Los Angeles. The third photo was taken in New York
in 1950 with Kirk Douglas on Gene's shoulders. To Gene, the circus
was like one big happy family.
When Gene decided to settle down, he moved back to Manitowoc,
enrolled in an apprenticeship program and became a carpenter for
Hamann Construction Co., and eventually retired from Hamann
Construction Co. On Aug. 16, 1958, he married Lenore Markowski
at the former St. Mary's Catholic Church, Manitowoc.
(Survivors omitted for privacy.)
He is preceded in death by five brothers: Harry, Benny, Louis,
Danny and Max; and four sisters: Irene, Della, Alice and Grace.
The funeral service for Gene will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday,
June 12, 2008, at St. Francis of Assisi on Marshall. Officiating
at the Mass of Christian Burial will be the Rev. Richard Klingeisen,
with entombment to follow in Calvary Mausoleum. The AMVETS Post 99,
Manitowoc, will accord military rites.
The family will greet relatives and friends from 5 until 7 p.m. on
Wednesday, June 11, 2008 at The Pfeffer Funeral Home, Manitowoc,
where a prayer service will be held at 6:30 p.m, led by Deacon Alan
Boeldt.
Visitation will continue on Thursday morning at St. Francis of
Assisi on Marshall, from 10 a.m. until the time of service at
11 a.m.
The Pfeffer Funeral Home, Manitowoc, is assisting the family with
funeral arrangements.
Memorials may be made to Holy Family Memorial Medical Center,
Manitowoc.
The family wishes to thank the doctors and staff of the 5th floor
and the Critical Care Unit of Holy Family Memorial Medical Center
for their kind and compassionate care given to both Lenore and
Eugene.
Herald Times Reporter, June 10, 2008

Contributor: Judy Mahnke