Al-Marie Persak

Al-Marie Persak, 91, of St. Paul, died Monday, June 18, 2018, at CHI Health Saint Francis in Grand Island. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m. Friday at Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in St. Paul. The Revs. Richard L. Piontkowski and Ray Kosmicki will con-celebrate the Mass. Inurnment will be in the Elmwood Cemetery in St. Paul. Visitation will be Thursday from 5 to 7 p.m. at the church with a 7 p.m. Catholic Daughters rosary. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be given to Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church or to the family's choice. Peters Funeral Home of St. Paul is assisting the family. Al-Marie was born on Oct. 29, 1926, at Ashton, the daughter of Frank and Agnes (Grudzinski) Jonak. She grew to womanhood on the family farm north of Ashton and attended school in the Ashton and Paplin area. She was united in marriage to Clarence Persak on Aug. 12, 1947 at Paplin. The couple made their home on a farm in the Midway area for over 65 years. In addition to farming with Clarence, she also managed and cooked at the American Legion Club for 25 years and had also worked in different restaurants and in the deli at the former Jack & Jill grocery store in St. Paul. Al-Marie was an active member of Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in St. Paul. She had served as president of the Altar Society, as a Regent of Catholic Daughters of America and she and Clarence served as funeral dinner chairman for several years. They also managed the parish BINGO for 25 years. Al-Marie's first love was her family. She also enjoyed crocheting, quilting and growing her hostas and roses. In her younger years she enjoyed driving the farm trucks at harvest time. She loved to dance and listen to polka and country music. She raised and dressed chickens for many people and was known as the “best salad maker” in the area. Al-Marie was a very dynamic lady who was very caring and supportive to family and friends alike. Although she developed age related macular degenerative disease in 2000, gradually losing most of her sight, she continued to crochet rugs out of material, having an exhibit in the Grow NE Stores and at the State Fair, with rugs sold in four states. She is survived by two daughters and sons-in-law, Cindy “Nic” and Chuck Beck of St. Paul and Deb “Percy” and Al Barrier of Hallsville, MO; 6 grandchildren, Mitch and Kelly Smith, Casey and Abbi Smith, Dustin and Emily Smith, Darl and Sarah Beck, Sheila Smith and Courtland King; 9 great grandchildren; one brother and sister-in-law, Isadore and Marilyn Jonak of Grand Island; and one sister, Esther Ambrose of St. Paul. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Clarence on Feb. 17, 2013; one grandson, Landon King; a sister, Elaine Dart; and four brothers, Eugene, Ted, Frank Jr, and Larry Jonak.