Paul Aleksiak Sr.

MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- Paul J. Aleksiak Sr., 95, of Marble Hill passed away Sunday, Feb. 20, 2011, at the Missouri Veterans Home in Cape Girardeau.

He was born Jan. 25, 1916, in Madison, Ill., son of Peter and Franntha Holanowig Aleksiak. He and Katherine Misukonis were married June 22, 1946. She passed away July 20, 2001.

Paul had worked melting scrap iron to form ingots for Granite City Tool Co. He was a member of Local 1899, Granite City 2003, and National Steel Workers.

He served his country proudly in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1931 to 1933, then during World War II from 1942 to 1945, earning a Purple Heart.

Survivors include a son, Paul J. Aleksiak II of Council Bluffs, Iowa; three daughters, Frances Clements of Perryville, Mo., Nancy Pigott of Evansville, Ind., Mary Ann Misukonis of Durham, N.C.; seven grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife a daughter, Patricia Klamenek; a brother, Walter; four sisters, Stella, Mayme, Josephine and Anna.

Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. today at Liley Funeral Home in Marble Hill. Parish prayers and KC rosary will be at 7:30.

Funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. John's Catholic Church in Leopold, Mo., with the Rev. William Hennecke officiating. Burial will be in Mount Hope Cemetery in Perryville, with full military honors provided by Missouri Honor Guard.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Knights of Columbus No. 5898 or St. John's CYC of Leopold.