MANITOWOC/COLUMBUS WI—Felix Rosik, age 94, formerly a lifelong Manitowoc resident, passed away on Wednesday, February 19, 2020 at Home Again Assisted Living in Columbus. Felix was born to Felix A. and Elizabeth A. (McCann) Rosik on November 29, 1925 in Manitowoc. He attended Lincoln High School and graduated with the class of 1943. Felix was an avid history student and as a high school senior he felt it important to join the forces fighting in WWII. He was only 17 years old when he rode the bus from Manitowoc to Green Bay in order to enlist in the U.S. Marines. His mother reluctantly signed his enlistment papers. Felix served three years with the United States Marine Corps during World War II in the Pacific, stationed in Guam and Rota. He met his future wife and love of his life, June M. Wilcox, at a Manitowoc ice skating rink when he was 15 years old and June was 13 years old. They wrote many letters (June wrote over 100 letters) back and forth while he was stationed in the Pacific.
Upon honorable release from the military, Felix returned to Manitowoc in November 1946. Felix and June were married on October 11, 1947 at St. Boniface Church. They raised five children and were married fifty-seven years until June passed away in April 2004.
In the early 1950's Felix built a four-bedroom home on property given to him by his father. It was there that he and June raised their family. He continued to live in his home until December 2018. Felix also built a cottage in Dunbar, WI to which he fondly referred to as 'the shack'. Felix was an avid outdoorsman who loved hunting and fishing. He spent many happy weekends in Dunbar trout fishing in the Spring and Summer, hunting in the Fall and Winter.
Felix was employed at Radandt Sons, Inc. for over 62 years as a heavy equipment operator. Felix was especially skilled at operating cranes. He enjoyed his work and could still point out various projects he worked on in Manitowoc in a ride through town. Felix was past president and proud member of the Operating Engineers Local 139. He received the Wisconsin Operating Engineers of the Year Award in 1981; was honored for 50 years of service by the union in 2003 and again in December 2018 for 65 years of service. Felix was a charter member for the Manitowoc Yacht Club and Eagles Aerie #706.  He participated in the 2010 Badger Honor Flight to Washington D.C. Felix enjoyed TV westerns, playing cards, especially poker and cribbage and occasional woodworking projects. Felix loved to kid and joke around with most anyone and would often find special nicknames that would become permanent tags. Upon retirement, Felix and June traveled to Mesa, AZ where they spent their winters.
Felix is survived by his five children Lynn (John) Knight of Waukesha, Lori (Lyle) Degner of Beaver Dam, Wendy (Rico) Carollo of McFarland, Warren (Michele) Rosik of Racine and Lea (Tom) Stokes of DeForest; one brother Andrew (Pauline) of Whitelaw; two sisters Ludmilla (Bill) Bollow of Milwaukee and Mayel Raven of Mesa, AZ; grandchildren TJ (Erin) Knight, Elizabeth (Mike) Kehrmeyer, Melissa (Jake) Carollo, Alison Carollo, Bryan Smith, Ricky (Brandy) Riebe, Adam (Mary) Stokes, Elliot Stokes, Madeline Stokes; many great-grandchildren; one brother-in-law Merritt (Jeanne) Wilcox of Two Rivers; one sister-in-law Cheri (Sally) Wilcox of Utah; nieces and nephews; great neighbors Chuck and Carol Spiering and many other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife in 2004; two sisters Katherine Wey and Betty Hartzel; one grandson JT Knight. In lieu of flowers, donations are suggested to Honor Flight Network or The National Coalition for Homeless Veterans. A celebration of life gathering will be scheduled at a later date.