William Proznik

Funeral Mass for William Edward Proznik, 83, of Virginia, formerly of Lake Esquagama, rural Gilbert will be 11 am Friday, May 2, 2014 at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Gilbert with Fr. Charles Flynn Celebrating.  Visitation will be one hour prior to Mass at the church.  Military honors will be accorded by the Gilbert Color Guard.  Interment will be in the Gilbert Cemetery.  William died on Saturday, April 26, 2014 joining his loving wife Phyllis in heaven. Bill was born on May 17, 1930 to Andrew and Barbara (Hobrle) Proznik.   He graduated from Virginia H.S, Class of 1948, lettering in track and football 9-12 grade. Upon graduation, Bill was offered a scholarship to Michigan Tech, but opted to remain on The Range attending the Virginia College playing football and semi-pro hockey affiliated with the NHL teams (Hibbing, Duluth, Fort Frances, Taconite, etc) until he served with the U.S. Army in 1952. He served overseas/mainland and trained as a construction machine supervisor. Bill and Phyllis (Novak of Orr) were married in 1957, and build their home and family at Ely Lake remaining active in hockey as a Bantam coach. Bill worked in the local mines as a shovel and crane operator until he was hired as a supervisor at Dow Chemical making explosives for the mines. In 1969, Dow Chemical transferred Bill and his family to Tucson, AZ to operate a new plant. He coached his sons’ Midget Hockey League in the Tucson Hockey Association where he was credited for league titles and a state championship. In 1973, the family returned to what he referred to as, “God’s Country” purchasing a home outside of Gilbert/Biwabik at Lake Esquagama where he enjoyed gardening and fishing. Bill continued to work for the former Dow Chemical outside of Biwabik after a Canadian Company purchased it. He retired in the 1980s only to be hired on with the U.S. Forestry and be elected as Biwabik Township Supervisor where he served for many years. Survivors include two sons and one daughter: William (Sally) Proznik Jr. of Eau Claire WI, John (Sara) Proznik of Buxton, ND and Tracy (Paul) Craig of Lakeville, MN; Seven grandkids: William III (Mary), Nicolas, Ethan and Lauryn, Brantly, Winter and Matthew;   Two great-grand-daughters: Olivia and Ava. Bill was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Robert; and step-father, John Differding; wife, Phyllis; and great-grandson, Owen William Proznik;The family would like to thank Ben Jarvela and Virgie Zarnec for their friendship.