Emil Jelinek
Emil Jelinek of Black River Falls, passed away Saturday, May 28, 2022. Emil was the oldest living timber harvester known, having kept himself young by working in the woods until age 97. He was quite proud of that, but you’d never know it, because working hard was just what he did - and what he loved. Born Feb. 21, 1922, Emil grew up the son of first-generation Americans Louis and Antonia Jelinek in the town of Komensky with his brother Otto and sister Millie. The family farmed and regularly spoke their parents native Czech language in the home. Emil never had more than an eighth-grade education, because he was needed to work on the farm. When he was 20, he enlisted in the Army and was sent all over the U.S. for training before heading to the Pacific Theater as part of the Hellcats 12th Armored Division. During the war, his Czech came in handy, as that young private from the town of Komensky was called upon to act as a translator for officers and generals in Belgium, Italy, Poland, France and Germany. He met a few young ladies over those years, and then when he returned to Camp McCoy for debriefing, a looker named Carol Nordahl caught his eye. They began dating and were married in April of 1948. Carol looked at him adoringly every day of their marriage (except when she was yelling at him because he could not hear her over the TV) until the day she passed away, which was almost exactly 10 years before in May of 2012.
Emil and Carol made their home in Black River Falls and started a mossing business. They had their first son, Dan, and three years later, along came son Dave. Many nieces and nephews were born into their extended family during that time as well. Emil and his brother Otto went on logging, taking time off to go hunting, race go-karts, motorcycles, snowmobile - all things he enjoyed with his sons and later his grandchildren. Across the street from their house on Chestnut Street, Emil and Carol ran the Standard and then later Shell gas station. There they had a Rupp snowmobile dealership and then an archery shop as well. His son Dave joined the pulp wood business as soon as he could drive, and son Dan had a good job at the Department of Natural Resources - both things Emil was proud of.
Emil’s family expanded over the years, and his grandchildren loved staying at Grandma and Grandpa’s because it usually meant a ride in the Cadillac with the soft velvet seats (that we got scolded for getting dirty), bowling at the Pines and pancakes at Perkins or the Country Kitchen. Grandpa had a lot of opinions - from how the boys should do their jobs to how the grandgirls shouldn’t wear baseball caps or skin their knees because how would they be able to be Miss America with skinned knees?
He wasn’t the type of Dad or Grandpa that came to every sporting event or concert, but he sure was steadfast in his work ethic and predictability. Grandpa wore the same hairstyle his whole life until the last few years when he decided he could look like the guys from Duck Dynasty or Tony Beets from Gold Rush (two of his favorite shows). He also loved Jimmie Johnson from Nascar, Molly B, the musician, and vanilla ice cream.
He relied heavily on his daughters-in-law, Mary and Gail, and they took great care of Carol and Emil. He loved it when his grandson Steve would bring him fresh-caught fish to cook for dinner. His sons were his best friends.
Emil is survived by sons Dan (Mary) and Dave (Gail) Jelinek; grandchildren Dave (Toni) Jelinek, Kari (Rick) Christenson and Dallas (Jen) Jelinek; great-grandchildren Kelsey (Tanner) Zoromski, Kaitlyn Noggle, Justin Jelinek, Alli and Paige Christenson, and Fheonix and Sydney Jelinek; and great-great-grandson, Bridger Zoromski, as well as many nieces and nephews.
Emil was preceded in death by his wife of 64 years, Carol Jelinek; his grandson, Steven Jelinek; his siblings, Otto and Millie; and his parents.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, June 10, at Torgerson Funeral Home, with Chaplain Kevin Newell officiating. Burial will follow at Riverside Cemetery with military honors. Visitation will take place from 10 a.m. until the time of service at the funeral home. Friends and family are invited for a luncheon following the burial at the Black River Falls American Legion Post #200.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred for BRF American Legion or Black River Memorial Hospice.
The Torgerson Funeral Home of Black River Falls is assisting the family with arrangements.