Harry J. Kaczmarek Jr.

Harry J. Kaczmarek Jr., 93, of Manitowish Waters passed away October 22, 2024 at Marshfield Medical Center Minocqua. He was born January 13, 1931, to Harry Sr. and Alice Kaczmarek in Cudahy. After attending Milwaukee area schools Harry joined the United States Coast Guard at age 17. He traveled the seas helping deliver supplies to the lighthouses on the Great Lakes, to Christmas Island, to the Bering Sea, and to Thule, Greenland. Harry served in the arctic on the icebreaker “Eastwind.”

Returning home Harry learned the grocery business in the family meat shop on Wisconsin Avenue in Milwaukee. During a fishing trip to Eagle River Harry and his dad found a small grocery store in Manitowish Waters which they purchased from Carl and Minnie Theilacker. Growing from small beginnings the Kaczmarek family operated Harry’s Supermarket for forty years on Highway 51.

Harry met his future wife, Alvena Finn, at a social dance class at the Manitowish Waters Community Center. After a wedding on February 4, 1967 at Patch Grove, they raised two daughters, Trina and Cheri and this year celebrated 57 years together.  

Harry was a charter member of the Manitowish Waters Lions Club. His interest was in serving on the Lakeland Lions Eye Bank Committee, transporting eyes, chairing a committee to raise funds through several wild-game feeds for the hospital, giving talks on organ donation, and with Jim Frandy taking high school students for a tour of the Lions Eye Bank at University Hospital in Madison. These students witnessed the signing of the bill that facilitated the organ-donation question being added to drivers’ licenses.

Harry found great joy in the hunting, fishing and trapping adventures he experienced in the Western U.S., Canada, or Alaska. And Wednesday nights wouldn’t be the same without cribbage with friends at the Manitowish Waters Community Center. Lest we forget Harry danced a mean old time waltz and polka and after two years in a Von Drake Ballet class he danced in a production of “Graduation Ball,” and in Theatre North’s production of “The Pied Piper” and “Babes in Toyland” in the ‘60s.

Harry was a 60-year member of the Manitowish Waters Fire Company from the time the ambulance was a hearse in the 50s until he retired as “Captain Water Supply.” He was an associate member of the Mercer United Methodist Church, a lifetime member of the NRA, and a longtime member of the American Legion. Harry served during earlier years on the committee of the Lakeland Chapter of Ducks Unlimited. For more of Harry’s life go on your favorite device to two items at “Manitowish Waters Historical Society” clicking on “Videos” to look for “Harry’s Supermarket.”

Harry is survived by wife, Alvena, daughters Trina Kaczmarek and Cheri (Matt Williams) Kaczmarek, two granddaughters, Izabel and Nina, brother-in-law Rudy Fuys, nieces and nephews. Preceding him in death were his parents, Harry Sr. and Alice Kaczmarek, sisters Betty Stefanski, and Rose Ann Fuys.

A celebration of life for Harry will start at the Mercer United Methodist Church, Highway J, Mercer on Nov. 2. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until service time at 11 a.m. followed by burial and military honors at the Pine Lawn Cemetery, Hwy 51, Manitowish Waters. Please join us for a continuation of the celebration for Harry at the Manitowish Waters Fire Company Building on U.S Highway 51, Manitowish Waters.  

Memorials may be sent to: Manitowish Waters Fire Company, P.O. Box 367, Manitowish Waters, WI 54545: Barry Hopkins, Music in the Park, P.O. Box 165, Manitowish Waters, WI 54545: or Scholl Community Impact Group (Equine Therapy), 13141 Old W Road, Winchester, WI 54557.

Online condolences may be shared at www.nimsgernfuneral.com. Nimsgern Funeral & Cremation Services is serving the family.