SIOUX CITY -- Philip Michael Boyok, 85, of Sioux City died Wednesday, June 24, 2009, at Northern Hills Assisted Living in Sioux City.
Services will be 10:30 a.m. Monday at St. Joseph Catholic Church. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery. Visitation will be 3:30 to 8 p.m. today, with the family present from 6 to 8 p.m. and a prayer service at 7 p.m., at Morningside Chapel, Christy-Smith Funeral Home. Online condolences may be sent to christysmith.com.
Philip Michael Boyok was born on Aug. 21, 1923, in Sioux City, the son of Matthew and Veronica (Uknes) Boyok. He graduated from East High School, where he was a member of the Honor Society. He then attended South Dakota State College for two years, taking a course in printing procedures and operations, after which he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II.
He was then sent to study for one year at Western Michigan College in Kalamazoo, Mich., as part of the Navy V-12 group training program. After basic and further training, he was commissioned as second lieutenant in the Marines. He was stationed on the Pacific island of Guam when peace with Japan was declared.
He married Rita Lisowski on June 24, 1951, in the old original St. Francis Church, being the very last couple to be married in the old church, after which it was closed and the newly built St. Francis Church was dedicated. He worked as a printing pressman at Gatens Printing, D.W. Verstegen and Bear Graphics before retiring in 1988. He was a member of the Printing Pressman's Union and the American Legion.
He was an usher, lector and Eucharistic minister at St. Francis Church before it was closed down by the diocese. The couple then joined St. Joseph Church. During their 50th wedding anniversary celebration on a 10-day tour of Alaska, he suffered a slight stroke on the very last day of the tour. He enjoyed reading about all subjects, especially about the Civil War and World Wars I and II. His favorites on television were sports and historical documentaries.
He is survived by his beloved wife of 58 years, Rita; and five children, Philip (Otis) Boyok and wife, Vicki of Sioux City, Joseph Boyok of Bradenton, Fla., Barbara Boyok of Sioux City, Cathy Bourek and husband, Jerry of Sioux City, and Patty Mahaney and husband, Joseph of Sioux City. Also surviving are 14 grandchildren, Sarah Goff of Spencer, Iowa, Philip Boyok of New York, Jason Boyok and Benjamin Boyok of Portland, Ore., Marissa Boyok of Sioux Falls, S.D., Alicia Varila of Round Rock, Texas, Anjie Boyok of Sioux City, Ashley Eastman of Sioux City, Ryan Eastman of Sioux City, Rudy and Steven Boyok of Bradenton, Fla., Jozey, Jeremy and Jayde Mahaney of Sioux City. He is also survived by nine great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Michael; and an infant brother and sister, who succumbed during the massive influenza epidemic following World War I.