Edward J. Banasik

Edward J. Banasik, 99, of La Crosse passed away peacefully in his home on Sunday, January 24th, 2021. He was born on May 21, 1921 in La Crosse to Wencel and Mary (Spika) Banasik. He graduated from Aquinas High School in 1939, where he excelled in football and basketball, serving as captain on both.

Ed enlisted with the United States Marine Corps on September 4th, 1940, where he was stationed in San Diego, California before shipping out with the 2nd Marine Division in the U.S. response to the attack on Pearl Harbor. He served in the Pacific Ocean Theater of World War II from January 6, 1942 through September 12, 1944. He was a Sergeant with special military qualifications in field artillery. He participated in action at the Guadalcanal Campaign, in the Solomon Islands campaign; The Battle of Tarawa, in the Gilbert Islands campaign; and The Battle of Saipan, The Battle of Guam, and The Battle of Tinian, in the Mariana Islands campaign. He was wounded in action on July 14, 1944 and awarded the Purple Heart medal. He was honorably discharged from the Marines on September 6, 1945, at which point he returned to La Crosse, Wisconsin, to start his civilian life and career as a sheet metal craftsman.

On December 13, 1947, Ed married the love of his life, Helen L. Rohrer at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in La Crosse. Ed enjoyed fishing and going on picnics with his wife, children, and grandchildren. He loved local high school sports and would often attend games with his wife, with a special fondness for Aquinas teams. In later years he followed high school sports on the radio, and also closely followed Badger sports, the Packers, the Brewers, and the Bucks. Except on the most frigid days, you would often find Ed sitting on his porch, and he looked forward to multiple visits from family throughout the week.

He is survived by his two children: Tom (Kay) Banasik and Gayle (Paul) Johnson, both of Onalaska, WI; six grandchildren: Heather (Paul) Church, Onalaska, WI; Brian (Erin) Banasik, Onalaska, WI; Kristin (Carl) Henningson, Brick, NJ; Nicole Podolak, McFarland, WI; Michelle (Kyle) Coman, Onalaska, WI; and Beck Johnson, La Crosse, WI; and ten great-grandchildren: Tyler Church; Georgia, Jagger, and Tucker Banasik; Liliana Henningson; Gabriela and Nicolas Podolak; and Hank, Sophie, and Dottie Coman.

He was preceded in death by his wife Helen; his parents Wencel and Mary; six sisters, Marcella Kala, Dorothy Banasik, Adeline Banasik, Alice Gray, Marie Olson, and Rita Bye; and five brothers George, Ted, Leonard, Bob, and Bernard.

A private family service will be held at Schumacher Kish Funeral Home, followed by an entombment at the Catholic Cemetery of La Crosse. A celebration of life will be held at a date to be determined.

Memorials are suggested to Mobile Meals of La Crosse or the local American Cancer Society.