August 24, 1924 - on their wedding day
Family Group Sheet
| parents of Lawrence | parents of Apolonia |
|
Anton "Lawrence" Zielinski b: May 14, 1896 in Menasha, Wisconsin d: January 14, 1964 in Menasha, WI (age 67) |
Apolonia "Lena" Jankowski b: December 11, 1899 in Rolling, Wisconsin d: May 31, 1992 in Menasha, WI (age 92) |
| married: August 24, 1924 in Menasha, Wisconsin at St. John's Catholic Church | |
  Janie Zielinski b: June 7, 1925 in Menasha, WI d: April 18, 1935 in Menasha, WI (age 9) |
|
 George Zielinski b: May 7, 1927 in Menasha, Wisconsin m: August 8, 1953 to Imelda Van Zeeland in Kimberly, Wisconsin d: May 3, 2020 in Granbury, Texas (age 92) |
|
  Helen Zielinski b: November 9, 1930 in Menasha, Wisconsin m: May 29, 1954 to William "Bill" Tuttle in Menasha, Wisconsin d: August 19, 2013 in Menasha, Wisconsin (age 82) |
|
 James "Jimmy" Zielinski b: October 31, 1933 in Menasha, Wisconsin m: June 23, 1956 to Shirley Gullickson in Menasha, Wisconsin d: January 1, 2014 in Menasha, Wisconsin (age 80) |
|
  Rose Marie Zielinski b: August 26, 1936 in Menasha, Wisconsin m: September 15, 1956 to Richard "Dick" Lutz in Menasha, Wisconsin d: November 13, 2013 in Appleton, Wisconsin (age 77) |
|
  Frances A. "Nancy" Zielinski b: January 9, 1940 in Menasha, WI m: June 8, 1963 to Tom Gertz in Menasha, WI d: June 18, 1984 in Wisconsin (age 44) |
|
| John Zielinski Elizabeth Witkowski |
---> | Frank Zielinski | ---> | Lawrence Zielinski | Mike Jankowski | <--- | Constantin Jankowski Barbara Frackowiak |
|
| Nicholas Brodzinski Marga Klonowska |
---> | Sofia Brodzinski | Lena Jankowski | <--- | Rosa Lewandowski | <--- | John Lewandowski Anna Pawlikowski |
Lena and Lawrence met one day when Lena accompanied Mrs. Joe Danowski (with whom she was staying) on a visit to the home of Sophia Zielinski (Lawrence's mother). They dated for three years before marrying on August 24, 1924. They were married in St. John's Catholic Church in Menasha by the Reverend W. B. Polaczyk. Witnesses were Anna Jankowski (Lena's sister), Benedict Zielinski (Lawrence's brother), Helen Pawlak (Lena's cousin, daughter of Ignatz Pawlak), and Edward Bednarowski (Lawrence's cousin, son of Anton Bednarowski).
Prior to the wedding day, Lawrence had purchased the lot at 635 5th Street in Menasha from his parents for $300. He contracted with Frank Ezdepski to build a house on the lot at a cost of $4200. They paid cash, except for a $1000 mortgage loan from Lena's mother (interest-free of course!) The house was completed before they were married, and both Lena and Lawrence would live in this house for the rest of their lives.
Lawrence went to work for Menasha Woodenware for about 5 years, before becoming employed by the Marathon Corporation in 1928, from where he retired in May of 1962.
On June 7, 1925, the couple welcomed their first child - Janie. She was followed in short order by George, Helen, Jimmy, Rosie, and Nancy. Tragedy struck the family in 1935 when Janie died on April 18th, just 2 months short of her 10th birthday, after a 2-week bout with scarlet fever.
In 1958, Lawrence was recognized by Marathon Corporation in honor of completing 30 years of service. He retired in 1962, and passed away on January 14, 1964 at the age of 67 after a heart attack. Daughter Nancy was stricken down with cancer and died on June 18, 1984, aged only 44 years. Lena lived a long life alone in the house at 635 5th Street, passing away at age 92 on May 31, 1992. All three are buried in a family plot in St. John's Cemetery in Menasha.
