Lawrence Anton “Sonny” Welniak, 80, of Elyria, Nebraska died April 5, 2021 at the Community Memorial Health Center in Burwell, Nebraska.
Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday, April 8, 2021 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Burwell. Burial will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery in Elyria, Nebraska. Fr. Scott Harvey will officiate. Visitation will be Wednesday from 5 – 7 p.m. at Hitchcock Funeral Home in Burwell. Memorials are suggested to the Burwell Legion Club Building Fund or the Polish Heritage Center in Ashton, Nebraska.
Sonny was born July 24, 1940 in Valley County, Nebraska to Anton and Helen (Knebel) Welniak. He graduated from Ord High School in 1958. Sonny entered the United States Army in 1959 and was honorably discharged 1961. He then farmed and ranched.
On April 15, 1967 he married Judith Drudik in Elyria, Nebraska. They have always lived on the family farm and ranch.
Sonny and Judi enjoyed traveling all over the world. He also enjoyed playing cards, racing stock cars as a young man and driving around in his white pickup. He loved working and tried to retire, but continued to be involved in the family operation. He was a member of the Burwell American Legion Post #298.
Sonny is survived by his wife Judi Welniak of Elyria, Nebraska. His son, Brian and Marcia Welniak of Elyria, Nebraska and his daughter, Jennifer Welniak of Omaha, Nebraska. Seven grandchildren and a sister, Lorraine and Dave Walahoski of Newman Grove, Nebraska.
Sonny was preceded in death by his parents and three brothers, Alfons, Floyd and Ted Welniak.
Comments