UPDATED In Memoriam: Protodeacon Nicholas Dzubay
CHETEK, WI [OCA] — Protodeacon Dr. Nicholas S. Dzubay, 84, of Holy Trinity Church, Clayton, WI, fell asleep in the Lord on Sunday evening, July 17, 2011 at Knapp Haven Nursing Home here following an accidental fall while recuperating from heart surgery.
He was born on September 26, 1926, on the family farm in Vance Creek, Barron County, WI, to immigrants Steven and Mary [Roman] Dzubay. He was the youngest of eight children. In 1944, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps and was trained as a military policeman. He served in Germany and England during the liberation and was honorably discharged.
Shortly after his return to Wisconsin, he enrolled at River Falls Teacher’s College in 1947. He earned his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Minnesota in 1953. He operated a large-animal practice for 11 years while working as a field man for Abbott’s Dairy.
In 1964, he returned to the University of Minnesota and earned a master’s degree in public health, completing his studies and thesis in one year. He was employed by the US Department of Agriculture as inspector-in-charge at the former Jerome Foods. He also traveled to beef and poultry plants throughout Wisconsin to provide inspection services. He operated the Holidog Inn boarding kennel from home until shortly before his death. He entered semi-retirement in 1991.
He married Shirley A. Beyl on September 9, 1950, at Holy Trinity Church, Clayton, WI. The couple celebrated their 60th anniversary last year.
Shirley, a registered nurse, supported him while he attended vet school. She worked part-time managing the veterinary practice, raising three children, and working part-time at the Indianhead Medical Group in Rice Lake.
Protodeacon Nicholas was ordained to the diaconate in 1973 by the late Archbishop John of Chicago and assigned to Holy Trinity Church, Clayton, WI, of which he was a life-long member. Prior to ordination he served on the parish council. He also directed the parish choir for over 30 years and was deeply involved in a variety of parish ministries and the Minneapolis Deanery. His faith was the center of his life, as he continually focused on the words of Our Lord, “Seek ye first the Kingdom of God.” It was within this context that he shared his God-given gifts and talents with the broader community, serving on the Barron City Council for 13 years and as a member of the Barron County Barbershop Chorus. He was a life-long learner, passionate gardener, hunter, and occasional fisherman. He enjoyed golf, woodworking, and traveling, and he avidly supported local high school athletics, especially basketball and baseball.
Protodeacon Nicholas is survived by his beloved wife, Shirley; daughters, Alexa [Boris] Geeza, Long Grove, IL, and Paula McDaniels, Barron, WI; son, Steven [Susan] of River Falls, WI; sister, Olga [Robert] Mommsen, Mercer Island, WA; and grandchildren Anne and Mary McDaniels, Masha and Nick Geeza, and Ella and Isaac Dzubay.
Visitation will be held at Holy Trinity Church, 523 First Street, Clayton, WI, from 4:00 until 8:00 p.m. on Friday, July 22. A Parastas will be celebrated at 7:00 p.m. Visitation will resume for one hour prior to the 10:00 a.m. Funeral Service on Saturday, July 23. Interment will follow in the parish cemetery.
May Protodeacon Nicholas’ memory be eternal!
