William "Bill" A. Zoromski

William "Bill" Zoromski, 94, of Custer passed away surrounded by family on Tuesday morning, September 30, 2014 at the home of his daughter in Rochester, MN.

He was born in Northland, Waupaca County, WI on February 23, 1920 to Teofil Zoromski and Anna (Zywicki) Zoromski.

Bill enlisted in the Marines before the U.S. entered World War II and attended basic training in San Diego, California. When Pearl Harbor was bombed on December 7, 1941 he was on board the USS Indianapolis 6 days out; that naval group returned on December 13 and he said Pearl Harbor was still smoking! His participation in combat included the Battle of Gloucester and New Britain in 1943, the Battle of Peleliu Island in 1944, and the Battle of Okinawa in 1945. He was wounded on Peleliu and received the Purple Heart. He was discharged on November 24, 1945 with the rank of Staff Sergeant.

He married Helen Platta in Polonia, WI on March 29, 1943 during a ten-day leave and they lived in Vallejo, California until he received orders to rejoin the crew of the USS Indianapolis. After their marriage and the end of the war, the couple settled in Stevens Point, then built their home in Ellis (Custer) and lived there with their family from 1952.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his stepfather, Martin Ostrowski, 10 brothers and sisters, 11 step-brothers and step-sisters and Helen, his wife of 69 years.

Bill was a master carpenter/millwright and worked at numerous sites on private homes, public buildings, bridges, and paper mills and served a term as president of the local Carpenters' Union.

He was a member and past president of the Holy Name Society, member of Saint Isadore's Society and past member of the Saint Cecelia Choir at Sacred Heart Church in Polonia. Bill maintained membership in the Polish Legion of American Veterans and the American Legion.

Bill is survived by one son, David (Jeanne) Zoromski of Mt. Horeb, WI and a daughter, Diane (Pete) Wottreng of Rochester, MN. He is further survived by five grandchildren; Sara (Shawn) Harlan of Custer; Matt (Chelsea) Grinvalsky and Tim, Ted and Hannah Zoromski, all of Madison, WI; three great grandchildren, Jessica, Cassidy and Riley Harlan; and one brother-in -law, Bert Platta of Plover and one step-brother, Raymond Ostrowski of Pewaukee, WI. In addition, Bill is survived by three step-grandchildren, Joe (Sarah McGrane) and Robert (Karen) Wottreng and Michelle (Scott) Olson and five step-great-grandsons.

A Mass of Christian burial will be 10:30 AM, Saturday October 4, 2014 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Polonia, Rev. Gregory Michaud officiating. Burial with full military honors will be in the Sacred Heart Parish Cemetery. Family and friends may call from 5:00 to 8:00 PM Friday October 3, 2014 at the Pisarski/Dzikoski Funeral Home 703 Second St. in Stevens Point, and from 9:30 AM Saturday at Sacred Heart Catholic Church until the time for Mass. There will be a Parish Rosary at 7:00 PM Friday evening at the funeral home.

Online condolences may be sent by visiting www.pisarskifuneralhome.com