Floyd Peter Kristof, 91, of Shawano, formerly of Leopolis, passed away May 1, 2014, surrounded by his family at Kindred Hearts-Shawano. Born on May 14, 1922, in Leopolis, he was the son of the late James and Lena (Kadlez) Kristof.
After graduating from Marion High School in 1940, Floyd helped on the family farm in the town of Herman until marriage to his wife, Veronica Stezenski, whom he met at one of the many local dances. On June 15, 1946, they were united in marriage at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Leopolis. The couple moved to and farmed in the town of Seneca until their retirement in 1983. He taught his boys how to work hard, do things for themselves and take time for a few cold ones with friends at a local drinking establishment. He died knowing The Brei Brother Farms had turned the base farm he toiled over in the 1950s, ’60s and ’70s into one of the top producing farms in Shawano County today.
Upon retirement, the couple traveled the country on numerous bus tours and enjoyed finding a good card game or listening to a rousing polka. Floyd was a tremendous baseball player, manager and fan. He and his brother-in-law, Joe Stezenski, helped pitch Leopolis to a win in the inaugural 1946 BABA Grand Championship game against New London. He managed Leopolis BABA, Junior League and Little Leaguers for a number of years and made great friends from the Menominee Reservation to Waupaca County. Even as his health began to fail, he still wanted to sit in the car to watch Leopolis play ball while listening to his beloved Brewers on the radio. He rarely missed a Packers, Badgers, Brewers or Bucks game on TV or radio. Floyd and Alan (Swampy) Steinke introduced the Leopolis kids to the world of golf at Pine Hills in Gresham, where he played in the men’s and couples leagues for years, even mowing the fairways when they needed him.
Floyd served a number of years on the Marion School Board and a few terms as town of Seneca supervisor and town chairman, board member for the Gresham Co-op. Every November the “Soup Gang” would take to the hunt for an elusive buck leading them to Leopolis, Tilleda and Weasel Dam area taverns, feasting on their flavorful soups, while eating a sandwich Veronica made each morning. This was often followed by more than a few evenings when cows were milked late.
Floyd picked up his dad’s talent of making great sausage, such as farmer, blood, liver and venison sausage. He also tapped trees and cooked down hundreds of quarts of maple syrup. Floyd may have lost his vision to macular degeneration and strength to a slight stroke in his later years, but he had the best memory anyone could imagine. As president and member of the Leopolis Fish and Game Club, Floyd spent numerous hours tending bar at the fairgrounds, raising and planting pheasants, planting trout, hunting squirrel, deer and pheasant.
Floyd was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Leopolis, St. Mary’s Men’s Club, the Knights of Columbus, Parish Council, and helped out a number of years in gathering and decorating the Christmas trees, followed by a few libations at Mary Pevonka’s Bar.
Floyd is survived by his wife of 67 years, Veronica; three sons, Steve (Margie) Kristof, of Leopolis, Pete (Debbie) Kristof, of Cloverleaf Lakes, and Bob Kristof, of Leopolis; his daughter-in-law, Patricia Kristof, of Shawano; nine grandchildren, Tom Kristof Jr., Aimee Zeinert, David (Missy) Kristof, Karen (Jason) Dean, Jennifer (Jose) Marroig, Joseph (Crystal) Kristof, Jessica Kristof, Miranda Kristof, Adam Holcomb; 14 great-grandchildren, Andrew, Kasey, Kendra, Alex, Josh and Gabriel Kristof, Leah and Wyatt Dean, Sofia and Cristian Marroig, Dillion and Tiara Holcomb, Jadin and Kiana Soukhaphaly. Floyd is further survived by two sisters, Carol and Rita Kristof, and a sister-in-law, Gladys Stezenski, all of Shawano, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Floyd was preceded in death by a son, Tom Kristof; his parents; a brother, Allen, two sisters, Doris Neville and Betty Dieck; sisters-in-laws, Mariane Rambach, Anna Dillenberg and Frances Prohaska; brother-in-laws, Peter, Alvin, Eddie and Joseph Stezenski, George Dillenberg and Fredrick Prohaska; and special lifelong friends Melvin and Leona Paiser.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, May 5, 2014, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Leopolis with the Rev. Patrick Lloyd officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Friends may call at the Swedberg Funeral Home in Gresham on Sunday from 3-7 p.m. and on Monday from 10 a.m. until the procession leaves for the church at 10:30 a.m. A prayer service will be held at the funeral home on Sunday at 6:30 p.m.
Swedberg Funeral Home in Shawano is assisting the family with the arrangements.
The family would like to extend great appreciation to all the staff at Kindred Hearts in Shawano, for the loving and generous care Floyd has received the last four years; also to Georgia and Lori with Heartland Hospice for their caring touch the last few days. Floyd and the family also appreciated the weekly visits by John Sazama and monthly Communion from Sacred Heart’s Father Evers and Father Luke.
www.swedbergfuneralhome.com