Mary Dravecky

Mary Dravecky

• Mary Dravecky was born on 21 November 1886 in Czechoslovakia.
• She married John Kolesar, son of John Kolesar and Susan (?), circa 1902.
• John Kolesar and Mary Dravecky appeared in the US federal census of 15 April 1910 in Wakefield, Gogebic County, Michigan, at 121 Shamrock Street. Also in the household were son Frank (age 4) and two unmarried male boarders, also iron miners.
• John Kolesar and Mary Dravecky appeared in the US federal census of 1 January 1920 in Ironwood, Gogebic County, Michigan, at 420 West Ash Street. Other members of the household included Veronica Theresa Kolesar. Also in the household were children Frank (age 13), Julia (9), Mike (5), John (2) and infant Carl, and one male boarder.
• John Kolesar and Mary Dravecky appeared in the US federal census of 1 April 1930 in Ironwood, Gogebic County, Michigan, at 347 West Ash Street. Other members of the household included Veronica Theresa Kolesar. Also in the household were children Frank (age 23), Julia (18), Michael (15), John (12), Clement (10), Regina (8), Cecilia and Anton (6), Bernard (4), and Paul and Pauline (2).
• She officially witnessed the death of John Kolesar on 24 June 1935 at 347 West Ash Street in Ironwood, Gogebic County, Michigan; at his residence.
• Mary Dravecky became a widow at the 24 June 1935 death of her husband John Kolesar.
• The following appeared on 25 June 1935 in the Ironwood Daily Globe: John Kolesar, 61, known for many years as "Big John" and noted for his feats of strength, died at 5:30 o'clock yesterday afternoon at his home at 347 West Ash street. He had been ill for five years.
       When tests of strength between rival tug-of-war teams from the various mines were a feature of Fourth of July celebrations here 25 years ago, "Big John" always was the mainstay of the Oliver mine teams in their contests with teams from the Newport and other mines. He also won many championships in rock drilling contests which also used to be a big attraction at these celebrations.
       He is survived by his wife and 12 children, Veronica of Chicago, Frank, Julia, Michael, John, Clement, Regina, Celia, Anthony, Bernard, Paul and Pauline all of Ironwood. Cecelia and Anthony and Paul and Pauline are twins. A third set of twins and three other children preceded the father in death. The deceased also leaves a brother, Michael Kolesar, in Streetor, Ill, and a sister in Czecho-Slovakia.
       The funeral will be held Thursday morning, with services at Holy Trinity church at 9 o'clock. The Rev. C. J. Petranek will officiate. Burial will be in Riverside cemetery.
• The following appeared on 27 June 1935 in the Ironwood Daily Globe: Last rites for John Kolesar, who died Monday, were conducted at 9 o'clock this morning at Holy Trinity church by the Rev. C. J. Peranek. Burial was in Riverside cemetery.
       Pallbearers were Thomas Yurick, George Elko, Joseph Valko, Leopold Lesco, John Toth, John Roth, members of the First Catholic Solvac Union. Flowers were carried by Joseph Cvengros, Stephen Cvengros, Joseph Krainak, John Pehovic, George Baluha, Richard Archambeau, Alfred Williams, George Kuker, Thomas Yellich, Honorary pallbearers were Mesdames Joseph Valko, L. Lesco, Joseph Cvengros, John Benzala, A. Babcanik, J. Kichak, of auxiliary of the Slovak society.
       Persons from other cities attending the funeral were Mr. and Mrs. John Mros, sr., Mr. and Mrs. John Mrs, jr., of Virginia, Miss Veronica Kolesar of Chicago, Mr. and Mrs. Anton Gulan and Mr. and Mrs. John Sawieski of Saxon.
• The following appeared on 3 July 1936 in the Ironwood Daily Globe: Mr. and Mrs. Frank Janik, daughter, Marcella, and son, Francis, of Chicago motored to Ironwood to spend the fourth of July. They were accompanied by Miss Cornelia Furtak of Whiting, Ind., and the Misses Julia and Verne Kolesar of Chicago.
• The following appeared on 17 July 1939 in the Ironwood Daily Globe: Miss Verne Kolesar of chicago arrived this week end to spend her two weeks' vacation with her mother, Mrs. Mary Kolesar, Ash street.
  
• The following appeared on 4 January 1941 in the Ironwood Daily Globe: Miss Verne Kolesar will leave tonight for Chicago after spending the holidays with her mother, Mrs. Mary Kolesar, West Ash street.
• The following appeared on 2 February 1942 in the Ironwood Daily Globe: The marriage of Miss Veronica Theresa Kolesar, daughter of Mrs. Mary Kolesar, 347 West Ash street, and John Robert Niksich, son of Mr. and Mrs. Mark Niksich, was solemnized at 8:30 the morning at the Holy Trinity church. The Rev. C. J. Petranck officiated at the nuptial mass for which the bride wore a rose colored suit with navy accessories and shoulder corsage of gardenias. Her only jewelry was a gold cross, a gift of the bridegroom.
       The couple was attended by Miss Regina Kolesar, sister of the bride, as maid of honor and Miss Rose Mesich, bridesmaid, Michael Kolesar, the bride's brother, was best man and also gave his sister in marriage. The fourth attendant was Clement Kolesar.
       The maid of honor wore a pastel green suit, accessories of brown and corsage of roses. The bridesmaid's suit was pastel blue, her accessories blue also and her corsage of roses.
       The ceremony was followed by a breakfast for immediate relatives and friends, a dinner for 50 guests and a reception to which 75 had been invited, all at the bride's home which was decorated elaborately with cut flowers.
       Mrs. Kolesar wore a green dress and black accessories for her daughter's wedding and the groom's aunt wore blue. Both had floral shoulder corsages.
       The newlyweds will make their home at the Kerkes apartments on Birch street. Mr. Niksich has been a gold miner in Alaska. His bride is a graduate of St. Ambrose high school.
       Wedding guests from outside Ironwood were Mrs. Matt Miller and son Anthony, Mrs. Philip Barabe and Mrs. Matt Yellich of Mellen, Matt Yellich of Marenisco, Mrs. Clarence Pilon of Ashland and Mrs. John Mros of Virginia, Minn.
• The following appeared on 10 July 1970 in the Ironwood Daily Globe: (Wakefield) Sister Mary Michaelene Kolesar, daughter of Mrs. Mary Kolesar, 347 W. Ash St., Ironwood, celebrated her silver anniversary in religious life Sunday July 5. Sister Michaelene is a member of the Dominican Sisters at Oxford and is presently retreat directress at St. Mary's retreat house there.
       The celebration began with a eucharist at Holy Trinity Catholic Church at 11 a.m. The Rev. Joseph Kichak officiated at the mass and preached a homily.
       Following the mass, a reception was held in Holy Trinity parish hall from noon to 3 p.m. for Sister Michaelene, her family, relatives and friends.
       Later in the afternoon, Mr. and Mrs. Paul Kolesar (twin brother of sister Michaelene), Wakefield, honored her with a reception at their home for 200 guests.
       Out of town guests were Mr. and Mrs. Michael Kolesar and family, Sacramento, Calif; the James Soraruf, Jr., family, Ypsilanti; Sister Marie Celin, Neopit; Sister Ann Martin, Oxford; Louis Lescoe, Sacramento, Calif; Mr. and Mrs. John Martin, Streator, Ill; Mr. and Mrs. Robert Rutila, Lake Linden; Mr. and Mrs. Vincent Briar, Rhinelander; Mr. and Mrs. John Maddox, Kenosh, Wis; Mr. and Mrs. Glen Lauren, Menominee, Mich; Mr. and Mrs. John Niksich, Jr., Kalamazoo; Ronald Niksich, Lansing; thomas Niksich, Sault Ste. Marie; and Jack Kolesar, Racine, Wis.
• Mary Dravecky died on 2 August 1978 at age 91 in Wakefield, Gogebic County, Michigan.
• The following appeared on 19 July 1995 in The Daily Globe: Kolesars from 13 states celebrated a patriotic "Stars and Stripes" reunion in North Ironwood at the Tom and Pat Niksich farm July 1-2. The nine surviving sons and daughters of the late John and Mary Kolesar of Ironwood joined 191 other offspring for a two-day reunion and celebration of Sister Michaelene Kolesar's 50th Jubilee as a Sister of the Dominican Order. . . .

• Last Edited: 1 May 2017