1925
William
2013
William "Bill" H. Balko
October 4, 1925 — June 28, 2013
Wetmore
William "Bill" Balko, age 87, of Wetmore, died Friday, June 28, 2013 at the D.J. Jacobetti Home for Veterans in Marquette. He was born on October 4, 1925, in Gladstone to the late William and Emma (Olson) Balko. Bill entered into the Civilian Conservation Corps (C.C.C.) to help his family. When he was able to find work in Munising he returned home to be a wood cutter in all phases at the Munising Woodenware Company. In 1943 Bill enlisted into the U.S. Navy. He served aboard the USS LST 982 (an amphibious landing ship tank) when it came on shore in Normandy and Okinawa. Bill was awarded the American, European African Middle Eastern, and Asiatic Pacific area Ribbons, and the WWII Victory Ribbon. He was honorably discharged in 1946. When Bill returned home he worked on the ore boats on the Great Lakes. Eventually he began his employment with the Munising Paper Company, and retired from Kimberly Clark in the late 1980's as a color man. In Bill's retirement he worked very hard in his vegetable garden. When asked by a family member why he planted flowers around his vegetables, he replied "Flowers keep the garden happy." Bill was a member of the American Legion.
He is survived by his children - Ed (Rosemary) Balko of Holland, MI and Sandy (Kevin) Foy of Ft. Walton Beach, FL; grandchildren - Willy (Megan) Balko of Munising, Natasha (Jamin) Wonch of Sands Twp., and Ryan Balko of Holland; great-grandchildren - Siera and Dimetri Balko and Quinly and David Wonch; sisters - Anita Hase and Jean (Harold) Johns; brother - Allen Miron; sisters-in-law - Janet Miron and Marge; and numerous nieces and nephews. Bill was preceded in death by his parents - William Balko, and Emma and Gordon Miron, son William "Bunky" Balko; wife - Ruth; siblings - Gordon "Manny" Miron, Jr., Harriet (Jack) (Jim) Latvala Fitzgerald, Norman (Evelyn) Balko, and Don "Duck" Miron; and brother-in-law - Walter "Bud" Hase.
A graveside service will be held on Friday, July 5, 2013 at 2:00 p.m. at the Munising Township Cemetery in Wetmore, where the American Legion and Vietnam Veteran Honor Guards will conduct military honors.
William "Bill" Balko, age 87, of Wetmore, died Friday, June 28, 2013 at the D.J. Jacobetti Home for Veterans in Marquette. He was born on October 4, 1925, in Gladstone to the late William and Emma (Olson) Balko. Bill entered into the Civilian Conservation Corps (C.C.C.) to help his family. When he was able to find work in Munising he returned home to be a wood cutter in all phases at the Munising Woodenware Company. In 1943 Bill enlisted into the U.S. Navy. He served aboard the USS LST 982 (an amphibious landing ship tank) when it came on shore in Normandy and Okinawa. Bill was awarded the American, European African Middle Eastern, and Asiatic Pacific area Ribbons, and the WWII Victory Ribbon. He was honorably discharged in 1946. When Bill returned home he worked on the ore boats on the Great Lakes. Eventually he began his employment with the Munising Paper Company, and retired from Kimberly Clark in the late 1980's as a color man. In Bill's retirement he worked very hard in his vegetable garden. When asked by a family member why he planted flowers around his vegetables, he replied "Flowers keep the garden happy." Bill was a member of the American Legion.
He is survived by his children - Ed (Rosemary) Balko of Holland, MI and Sandy (Kevin) Foy of Ft. Walton Beach, FL; grandchildren - Willy (Megan) Balko of Munising, Natasha (Jamin) Wonch of Sands Twp., and Ryan Balko of Holland; great-grandchildren - Siera and Dimetri Balko and Quinly and David Wonch; sisters - Anita Hase and Jean (Harold) Johns; brother - Allen Miron; sisters-in-law - Janet Miron and Marge; and numerous nieces and nephews. Bill was preceded in death by his parents - William Balko, and Emma and Gordon Miron, son William "Bunky" Balko; wife - Ruth; siblings - Gordon "Manny" Miron, Jr., Harriet (Jack) (Jim) Latvala Fitzgerald, Norman (Evelyn) Balko, and Don "Duck" Miron; and brother-in-law - Walter "Bud" Hase.
A graveside service will be held on Friday, July 5, 2013 at 2:00 p.m. at the Munising Township Cemetery in Wetmore, where the American Legion and Vietnam Veteran Honor Guards will conduct military honors.
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