Peter Joseph Kanikula

Kanikula, Peter Joseph BUTTERNUT/STOUGHTON-Peter J. “Pete” Kanikula, KD9YS, age 90, of Butternut, Wis., died on Friday, Dec. 5, 2014, surrounded by family and his loving wife, Violet. He was born Nov. 1, 1924, in the house his father built by hand. His parents were Peter and Josephine (Adamczyk) Kanikula. His father and uncle immigrated from Poland in 1911, then Josephine and her sister arrived in 1914 and married the brothers. Josephine and Peter raised Pete and his eight siblings in Cicero, a Chicago neighborhood where Al Capone was known to frequent. He graduated from Morton High School, and went directly to join the U.S. Navy, barely making the minimum weight and age requirements. He served in World War II in the South Pacific, doing ship communications and navigation as Quartermaster on the USS Hammondsport. He was later assigned sea rescue work as Captain of his own vessel. After the war he served on the Great Lakes with the Merchant Marine, and was finally called up again for the Korean War as Captain of a landing craft. His service in the Navy proved to be the most formative years of his life. He embraced the discipline and integrity of a serviceman until the end of his days. After the war, Pete enrolled at Loyola University for two years on the GI Bill. He told many stories of those single years when he enjoyed time with neighborhood buddies, being involved with his local church parish, and ballroom dancing. Pete met the love of his life, Violet Germanos, at a 1956 Christmas ball in downtown Chicago. Pete was united in marriage to Violet on May 18, 1957. Their first son died in childbirth. They went on to raise four children. Pete and Violet were a vibrant, handsome couple, known for their hospitality and loving home. In their later years they played cards every night or sat “discussing our future”. Pete loved and enjoyed his children and equally so his grandchildren. He was tremendously proud of their accomplishments large or small. Pete was a man of profound faith and trust in God. He knelt down with his kids each night while they were little and taught them to pray. In Park Falls, Pete was a faithful parishioner at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, and he enrolled all the kids at St. Anthony’s Catholic school. Pete was a letter writer while his kids were at college, and would send an “Abe Lincoln” occasionally, apologizing it was not “Ben Franklin”. He always had a joke, song lyric or quip to lighten the mood and put people at ease. Thanks, Pete. “You’re Velcome!” Pete held many jobs, often two at a time to make ends meet. He built the family’s first house in Palatine, Ill. Pete was the neighborhood fix-it guy and medic for emergencies. He could rig up just about any repair with Romex wire, duct tape, shoe strings, or whatever else he saved for “just in case.” Pete moved his family to Park Falls, Wis., in 1972, where he realized his dream to be his own boss. He operated a motel for many years before retiring to Butternut, on what came to affectionately be known as “No Fish Lake”. Pete loved to be on the water, either to fish, or just sit and hope somebody would catch that huge musky under his dock. There were countless good times at the lake swimming, fishing, making bonfires, and storytelling. The Pawlowski nephews usually had a stop-over at the lake for a visit en route to or from Canadian fishing trips. Pete, KD9YS, kept up his radio training from the Navy, becoming a Ham radio operator, and inspiring most of his family members to do the same. Scheduled shortwave contacts “skeds” between Pete and his sons created a unique bond and workshop of communication skills among the family. He helped to organize the Associated Flyers club in Park Falls, in part because of his son’s love of flying. Pete advocated strongly for the upkeep and improvement of the local airport. Both Pete’s sons became pilots, learning to fly in the club’s Cessna “19Romeo”. Members of the flying club have remained lifelong friends. Pete was also a lifetime member of the Moose lodge both in Illinois and Wisconsin. In December, 1994, he wrote a letter to his family, with “just in case” written on the envelope. Besides details to get his affairs in order, Pete said: “love your husbands and wives, raise those beautiful grandchildren as best as you can, keep believing in God, I’ll be watching from “up above”. Roger that. Fine business, Pete. 73.” Pete is survived by his wife of 57 years, Violet; four children, Peter (Kathy) Kanikula, Agnes (Brian Evans) Kanikula, Theresa (Peter) Ives, and Paul (Mandee) Kanikula; eight grandchildren, John Kanikula, Jennifer Kanikula, Benjamin Evans, Samuel Evans, Sarah Ives, Mary Ives, Olivia Kanikula, and Lola Kanikula; four sisters, Sophie, Wanda, Dorothy and Roseanne; and many beloved nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his infant son, Peter Kanikula; his parents, Peter and Josephine Kanikula; and all his brother, Albert, Ted, Frank, and Harry. Family and friends are invited to gather and celebrate Pete’s life during a Mass of Christian Burial at ST. ANN CATHOLIC CHURCH, 323 North Van Buren Street, Stoughton, at 6 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 19, 2014. Visitation will be held at the church from 4 p.m. until the time of the service on Friday. Dinner will immediately follow the Mass. A Christian burial with military honors will be held at Queen of Heaven Catholic Church, 1400 S. Wolf Rd. Hillside, Ill., at noon (arrive by 11:30 a.m.), on Saturday, Dec. 20, 2014. The family requests any gifts be made to a memorial fund to help support Violet. Donations will be accepted at the church or care of Theresa Ives, 1040 Sundt Ln., Stoughton, WI 53589. The family would like to extend a special thank you to the William Middleton VA Hospital staff that cared for Pete in his final days, and to Brian Evans for crafting Pete’s casket. On-line condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com. Gunderson Stoughton Funeral & Cremation Care 1358 Highway 51 N. (608)873-4590