The Lena Dairyfest committee has selected William “Bill” and Carol Pytleski as the parade marshals for the Lena Dairyfest parade being held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 7, on Main Street in Lena.
The Pytleskis owned and operated a dairy farm west of Lena, and they were among the first in Oconto County to milk cows in a milking parlor. The herd consisted of 50 cows at the time. In 1980 they sold the dairy farm to their son Jeff.
Bill Pytleski served in the United States Navy from November 1943 to June 1946 when he achieved the rank of seaman as a torpedo man. He served in the Southwest Pacific, Philippines and Burma, and received numerous medals and ribbons. He is featured in one of John Maino’s books about World War II.
The couple celebrated 65 years of marriage on June 12. They are the parents of two sons, Jeff (Cheryl) and Jim (Janet), and two daughters, Vicki (Jeff) Coopman and Jane (Donald) Hoffman. They have numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Bill and Carol have been active in their community and church. Bill served on the National Board of World War II P.T. Boats Base and Tenders for 10 years. He has been a member of the American Legion for 60 years and served as commander for two years. He has been a member of the Disabled American Veterans for 18 years and has done a lot of work promoting the welfare of veterans.
His community activities include the Dairy Herd Information Association board of directors for four years, agricultural education advisory committee for Oconto Falls High School for 14 years, fair board member for eight years and 4-H leader/coach for four years.
He was the first to be honored as the Outstanding Young Farmer in Oconto County.
Carol has belonged to the American Legion Auxiliary for 20 years, serving as president for two years. She volunteered with the Red Cross bloodmobile for 20 years and was an Oconto Country Fair superintendent. Carol also served on the Lena Museum Board and was a 4-H leader for 15 years.
Both were active at Holy Cross parish and its predecessor, Sacred Heart parish. Bill served as a Eucharistic minister for 15 years and an usher for 50 years. He served on the Sacred Heart Parish Council for four years and the Sacred Heart Cemetery Board for 20 years.
Carol was a religious education teacher for 10 years, Eucharistic minister 30 years and lector for 24 years.
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