William J. "Bill" Chuchna

William J. “Bill” Chuchna, age 99, of Winona, passed away on Tuesday, December 24, 2024, at the Gundersen Health System Hospital in La Crosse, WI.

He was born on September 30, 1925, in Winona, to William and Gertrude (Kuklinski) Chuchna, Sr. At a young age, he started working at the J.R. Watkins Company in Winona, where he completed a total of 45 years of employment, retiring in 1987. Those years were only interrupted by World War II when Bill honorably served his country with the United States Army in France, Germany, Austria, and Italy with the 103rd Infantry Division. In September of 2024, Bill was able to participate in the Freedom Honor Flight, which he considered to be the adventure of a lifetime.

On August 2, 1952, he married Dorothy Glowacki at St. Stanislaus Kostka Church in Winona, and she preceded him in death on May 31, 2020, after 67 years of marriage.

During their lifetime, Bill and Dorothy loved to travel as often as possible, especially to many of Bill’s Army reunions throughout the country to meet his “Army Buddies.” After retiring, Bill and Dorothy moved to Scottsdale, AZ, where they lived for 12 years, returning to Winona in 2004 to begin their second retirement.

In his younger years, Bill especially enjoyed hunting, fishing, bowling, and golf. He took pride in having donated 12 gallons of blood to the Red Cross Bloodmobile.

Bill was a long-time member of the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart and was active with the Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration at the Cathedral. He was also a member of the Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus Assembly 536 and Council 639; a life member of both the Veterans of Foreign Wars Neville-Lien Post 1287 and the American Legion Leon J. Wetzel Post 9; Harvest House; the Polish Cultural Institute of Winona; and the Foundation for Fighting Blindness.

Bill is survived by several nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.

He was preceded in death by his wife; parents; brothers: Chester Chuchna and Richard Chuchna; sisters: Helen Plait and Florence Kulas; sisters-in-law: Dorothy J. Chuchna, Genevieve Chuchna, Mansuetta “Monnie” Jereczek, and Margaret Neyers; and brothers-in-law: John Plait, Max Kulas, Joseph Jereczek, and Arnold Neyers.

Visitation will be held from 10 AM until the Mass of Christian Burial at 11 AM on Monday, January 6, 2025, at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Winona. The Very Reverend Mark C. McNea will officiate. Bill will be laid to rest at St. Mary’s Cemetery where the American Legion Leon J. Wetzel Post 9 of Winona will provide military honors.

Memorials may be directed to the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart or to Benedictine – St. Anne.

Online condolences or memories may be left for Bill’s family at www.watkowski- mulyck.com.