Casmer “Cass” Konczak
Madison Casmer “Cass” Konczak left this world, Friday, December 28, 2012, to join his beloved wife, Joyce and many of his fellow Navy veterans. Cass was born on February 27, 1925 in Hamtramck (Detroit), Michigan. Cass loved to tell the story of having to get up at 2:00 a.m. to ride in a wagon and help his father deliver milk each day and then go to school.
Cass enlisted in the Navy on June 8, 1942. From 1942 until 1947, Cass served on the USS Enterprise. Cass loved his country and the Navy and serving as Chief Petty Officer. After the USS Enterprise, he was stationed at Pensacola, FL and, subsequently, in French Morocco until 1950. Cass was assigned in Washington, DC until 1954. From there he served on the USS Columbus until 1956. There then followed stints at the Philadelphia Naval Home (1956 – 1960), Guantanamo Bay (1960 – 1961), and on the USS Francis Marion. In 1963, he moved to Madison, WI where he was a successful Navy recruiter. After being honored as Navy Recruiter of the Year (1963), he retired from the Navy in December 1964.
Cass’s most difficult assignment probably was “commanding” the four children he acquired when he married Joyce Springman (Yunger) on Nov. 16, 1963. The “unruly” children learned many valuable lessons in self-discipline and hard work, and they had the best looking spit-shined shoes in the Madison School District! Cass was most proud of the fact that he was a three war veteran having been in service during World War II, the Korean War and Vietnam War.
Upon his retirement from the Navy after twenty years of service, Cass worked for the US Postal Office, the Job Corps, and as a supervisor at Madison United Hospital Laundry. In 1970, he became Director of Shared Service Systems and moved to Omaha, Nebraska. He and Joyce returned to Madison in 1985, where he worked at Block Cleaners until his retirement in 2005.
Survivors include his “command” – Scott (Vicki) Springman, M.D. of Fitchburg, Susan Springman of Waunakee, who took good care of Cass prior to his death, Steven Springman St. Petersburg, FL, and Sharanne (Michael) Spomer of Honey Creek, IA. Further surviving are grandchildren, James Severson, Madison, Nicholas Severson, Chicago, IL, Christopher Severson, Waunakee, Andrew Severson Waunakee, Anna Severson, New York, NY, Abigail Springman, Madison, Laura Springman Fitchburg, Anna Spomer, Honey Creek, IA, and Kurt Spomer, Honey Creek, IA; a sister, Kristina Konczak Detroit, MI; a nephew, Ronald Wilke Detroit, MI; and two nieces, Karen Dedene Detroit, MI and Kelly Fish Detroit, MI.
Preceding him in death were his wife, Joyce; his parents, Frank Xavier & Helen (Olejnieczak) Konczak; brothers, Theodore and Robert Konczak; and sisters, Virginia Wilk and Irene Bargo.
The family gives special thanks to Bill Sprout of Waunakee, “Donut” and Mike from Cherokee Park Inc., for their special kindness to Cass.
A funeral service will be held at 11 am on Saturday, January 5, 2013 at LAKEVIEW LUTHERAN CHURCH, 4001 Mandrake Road, Madison, with Reverend Dean Kirst officiating. Visitation will be at the church on Saturday from 9 am until the time of service. Burial with military rites will be at Roselawn Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers the family asks that memorials be made to the Waunakee Senior Center and Lakeview Lutheran Church. To view and sign this guestbook, please visit: www.ryanfuneralservice.com. Ryan Funeral Home & Cremation Service 2418 N. Sherman Avenue 608-249-8257
