William Bambenek

Wiarus, 2 February 1888:

On Thursday, January 27, the funeral of the late Walenty Bambenek was held in Winona. The Bambenek family, one of the oldest in Winona, is weeping over the graves. His father died recently, then his mother, his sister Katarzyna, married to Jakub Bronk, and earlier, a brother had left this life in the Old World. His body was taken in a procession by the Societies of Saint Kaźmierz and of Saint Stanisław, to the cemetery of Saint Stanisław Kostka and a grave was placed there. Behind the coffin were: a young, 23-year-old widow with two children, brothers and sisters and many relatives of the deceased from Winona and neighborhood, and a long line of friends and acquaintances of Walenty. Between the others, there were seen among the relatives: Józef Cysewski with his wife from Arcadia, J. Rózek with his wife, also from Arcadia, August Bambenek, uncle of the deceased, from Dodge. The late father of the deceased had come to America from South Kashubia from his family, and here he worked diligently and earnestly to earn considerable wealth. His son, Walenty, left Europe at 8 years old, he was educated in local English schools, and he was taught the trades late. He married, he kept a saloon and a grocery in the Polish part of Winona, not far from the Polish church, expanding his capital more and more, inherited from his own and his wife's father, and living as a calm and godly gentleman. Two years ago, catching a cold, he began to grow ill until the consumption took hold, From the New Year on, Walenty was confined to his bed, until he died on January 24, the day he gave his soul to God. The deceased had a life insurance policy for a sum exceeding $3,100. He gave five thousand dollars to his children in his will. Let us hope that every Pole will provide his family without taking the soul's goodness from the eye! He no longer needs earthly wealth; his Lord Jesus called for heavenly happiness, to which he calls all people who love God and other people. There his soul will live forever, and let his mortal remains rest in peace!