Michael "Mike" Lomperski

Mike Lomperski passed away peacefully in his sleep at home on September 12, 2021. Mike was preceded in death by his parents Stanislaw Lomperski and Susan (Maez, sometimes spelled Mac) former wife and mother of his children  Mary Ann Phillips, brothers Joe, Ed, Stan, and sisters Florence  (Edward) Kamien, Mary, (Robert) Czarnecki, Stella  (called Bonnie) (Earl) Johnson.

Mike is survived by children Michelle Lomperski, Monique Lomperski, Theresa Lomperski, Mark, Nichole (Kosian) Lomperski and Steve Lomperski. Mike  is survived by his wife Barbara (Bell) and her children Melody Hopps, (Todd,) and Brenda  Speth, (Tom dec). Mike is survived by grandchildren Emma Kosian, Miguel Serrano,  Gabriela Serrano, Miguel Mendoza, Sam Speth, (Christina), Gunner Speth, Barbara Speth Weis, (Blake),  Megan Hopps Thorstad,(Kyle) Rachel Hopps Wojciechowski, Grant.  Mike is survived by great grandchildren  Genevieve, Ramses,  Anna, Rose, Hudson, and Everly.

Mike Lomperski was born on September 29, 1936  in Chicago , Illinois to Susan (Maez, sometimes spelled Mac)  Lomperski, and Stanislaw Lomperski,  each taking on the unknown challenge of immigrating  to America in  the early 1900s.  Susan in 1914 and naturalized in 1918, and Stanislaw from Russian Poland in 1913 and became a naturalized citizen 1919.

Stanislaw was sent to America  by his widowed mother because she thought he would   be drafted into the Russian Army.  He enlisted in the US Army for the First World War to fight for liberty.  Stan received an honorable discharge December 30, 1918 noting excellent character and he being  single.  After serving in WWI, as a non U. S. citizen, Stan became a naturalized citizen in 1919.  Stan and Susan Mac met and married in Chicago, Illinois in 1919.   The couple had seven  children.  Joe, Ed, Mike, Stan, Mary, Florence, and Stella, affectionately known as Bonnie.

Susan was discouraged by her family for wanting to come to America and learning to speak English.  Very little or perhaps no contact was made with her family after she immigrated to America.  Stan's parents spoke Polish, English, German and Russian.  They never came to America, nor did any of the other children .  Neither Stan or Susan returned to Poland. Susan arrived at Ellis Island as Monika Maez, passenger 1061, age 19 on the Imperator leaving on 5 19 1914 Homberg, Lubenia Austria.

Mike went to Poland in search of  family members and was able to locate two cousins, one of whom visited us in Madison, WI.  The two cousins became priests, Father Tadeusz served in the parish where Susan attended. Father Ludwig served in Czestochowie.  Father Tadeusz located the birth certificate for Susan as Zuzanna Monicka born 22 April 1895 in Siedlickachz, father Wawrzyniea, mother Agata Kotula.

While living in Chicago, Stanislaw was employed in the meat packing industry and furniture making.    At times, Stanislaw could not find work so he took care of the home and family.  Susan did cleaning at the Blackstone Hotel on Michigan Avenue and somehow they were able to save some money.  When Mike was nine years of age, the family moved to Cambridge to pursue another unknown challenge of restaurant owner and operator.

Susan  read an ad in the Chicago Tribune about a  resort that included The Spot O Luck Restaurant, filling station, and cabins located in Cambridge. WI.  Later the family learned the establishment was adjacent to the Cambridge Country Club.  The purchase was made and the entire family worked and lived there.  The establishment was renamed JEMS after Joe, Ed, Mike, and Stan. Over the years, people who patronized JEMS would say, "your Mother makes  the best pizza."  While working at La Salle Bank Mike purchased a Garland stove  in 1957 for the family business.   We had a family gathering in 2013 at the restaurant and the owners were using the Monica Lomperski pizza crust recipes. The owners allowed us to get pictures of the the Garland stove purchased by Mike which was replaced a few years after.

Mike attended the chef school in Madison to learn more about the cooking and restaurant business to help out the family owned restaurant JEMS.  Mike attended grade school and  Cambridge High School, moved to Chicago and graduated from The Walton School of Commerce and also the American Institute of Banking section American Bankers Association.   He graduated from The Graduate School of Banking at the University of Wisconsin sponsored by the Central States Conference of Bankers Association.  He was hired by La Salle National Bank where he became Vice President of Operations.  He would return to Cambridge on the weekend to help out at JEMS.

Mike longed to return to Wisconsin and he was hired by the Bank of Madison as Vice President and Secretary to the Board. Mike later being  hired  by The  Wisconsin Banker's Association as an Associate Director where he  conducted  educational classes  and worked with the Agriculture Bankers, both of which he enjoyed. tremendously.  Always interested in education, Mike was a pioneer in two-way radio conferencing with banking students located in learning centers around the state.  Broadcasting was done at the UW radio station located on campus.

During his career Mike taught Negotiable Instruments and Principal's of Banking for the American Institute of Banking  touching the lives of many banking careerists.  It was not unusual to have people recognize Mike and thank him for teaching them.  Mike being so knowledgeable of banking transactions, was requested to serve as  an expert witness in court trials regarding bank related issues. .

Mike was a board member for the UW Wisconsin Rural Leadership working with young future leaders of their local community, state, and  national platforms. He was fortunate to travel with the graduating groups on their foreign agriculture related study trips.  One of the most memorable was to Russia in 1989 that included stops in Moscow, Russia,  Kiev, Ukraine and Warsau, Poland.

After an early retirement, Mike was recruited by the Volunteers In Overseas Cooperative Assistance,  overview by the State Department  as a bank consultant traveling to Eastern Europe after the USSR broke apart.

As former  member of the Westminster Presbyterian Church, Mike served as an Elder.  Our pastor at the time was John Piper who married us in 1984.

One of Mike's favorite volunteer activities was with the Red Cross as a gardener. He and Tim Anderson spent many enjoyable times planting a front garden and trimming trees.  Tim later developed a flower garden for us when  we moved into the retirement community of Westshire Village at the Lake. When a request went out to the Red Cross volunteer drivers to make deliveries to Chicago, Mike, of course, volunteered.  Mike was familiar with the streets and locations of so many buildings, traveling in and out of the city was enjoyable.  Mikes' friend, Jerry Dunn would often ride with Mike.  After delivery to one of the hospitals, Mike would drive to Berghoff Restaurant, Jerry was dropped off to order sandwiches to go.  On the next pass around a long block, Jerry would be waiting to be  picked up.  They would drive to one of the many beautiful Chicago parks and eat lunch.  A most pleasurable  meal by both.  Mike never drove the same way to  anyplace, so Jerry learned about Chicago, Illinois and Wisconsin.

Mike was an active member of the Wisconsin Air National Guard for six years. . He received an honorable discharged from service in 1962 with the rank of Staff Sergeant.  He felt blessed to be born in America as a son of Polish immigrants and serve his country.

Mike was proud of  his Polish Heritage and in 1979, he placed an advertisement in the Wisconsin State Journal for people of Polish ancestry or those interested in Polish culture to organize  the Polish Heritage Club of Wisconsin, Madison Group. In 1980 the Club became incorporated.  Many of the original members were Polish immigrants. Today, the Club about one hundred active members.

It was thought by family members that no other family members came to America..  We did locate cousins in Brooklyn NY and a dear Swavic Spevac who remained a special friend who located cousin Father Tadeaus  nephew of Mike's Mother in Poland serving in the same parish Monica attended growing up in Poland.  We visited him and he also came to visit us in Madison.

Mike learned of the Tarnowiec Glass Works from friends who praised their work of hand blown glass.  On a trip to Polad he was able to visit the site and view samples.  Upon his return to America, Mike began the process to bring samples and a ship container of the different pieces of art.  This was done and he placed art pieces in the Robert Giede Designs Gallerly in Menomonie, WI. Many of the craftsmen are fourth and fifth generation who learn the trade and pass along to the next generation.

Any time that Mike could get a group together, he would  prepare Polish food and hand out the recipe letting people know the Polish origin.  Mike and daughter Michelle would make pirogi, which sometimes lasted more than one day.  Pirogi, a dumpling hand made from a recipe handed down from Susan, and stuffed with cabbage, onions, and sometimes pork was a favorite.

Mike loved to take road trips  and one of his favorite things was to pack all the kids in the car and drive to visit family.  The dearest place in his heart was reserved for his children and family.

One of Mike's favorite pastimes was working in the garden. Plants were traded or given to others who expressed an interest.  It would be a surprise to see what came up each spring. He would often draft children Stephen, Mark or Michelle to assist in  moving stone, soil, or vegetation.

On Saturday mornings Mike would attend the Farmer's Market that was held around the Capitol.  One morning he noticed a flower grower and seller was having more business buying his beautiful gladiolas than he could keep up with.  Mike stepped into to help him out and that volunteer job became a regular activity from then on.  When the day as over the grower Bob Melk and Mike  would go for lunch at The Blue Plate Diner.  Mike loved getting to know Bob and working for him.

An accomplished golfer who kept the game at bay to spend more  time with his family and friends. His favorite time of the day to golf was in the late afternoon to twilight time.  Mike helped many to improve their golf game.  For some of us it did not take. If he had extra clubs or golf balls Mike would pass them along to anyone who had a need.

In September 2014 we moved to a retirement community in the Waunakee area where we found friendly neighbors and made new friends.

Donna Sorensen, one of the more energetic neighbors, along with Barbara Beckwith, Carol Tiedeman, Virginia Kaufman,  Mary Beth Crea and Mary Ellen Erickson joined together in common interests. We formed an afternoon social group serving wine and crumpets.  Soon Mark Tiedeman and Mike joined as the men's auxiliary.

The men's auxiliary took us to a higher level.  Donna had asked, "are there any supper clubs left in Wisconsin?"  Mike brought out his large book on Wisconsin Supper Clubs and this was the beginning starting on our journey of once a month eating out at one of the still remaining Wisconsin Supper Clubs.  Mike would ask the owner or chef to sign our book.  They were always happy to comply.

Thank you to the caring people in the oncology department of SSM and  the at home care provided by SSM.

We are especially thankful for the First Responders from the Dane County Sheriff Department and Waunakee EMS.

A Celebration of Life will be conducted at the Cress Funeral Home, 6021 University Avenue, Madison, WI 53705 on Saturday, June 18, 2022 with visitation from 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m., followed by a memorial service at 12:00 p.m.  In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Red Cross.

We are grateful for our family, friends, and life's  journey.

The Michael  Lomperski Family

Please share your memories at www.cressfuneralservice.com

Cress Center

6021 University Ave. Madison

(608) 238-8406