AGE: 86
ADDRESS: 860 Vega Lane, Medford; City of Medford Resident
PLACE, DATE & TIME OF DEATH: 11:48 A.M. Monday, February 18 at St. Luke’s Medical Center, Milwaukee where he had been a patient for the past 14 days.
TIME & PLACE OF FUNERAL: 11:00 A.M. Saturday, February 23 at the Holy Rosary Catholic Church, Medford where full military honors will be performed by the Medford and Westboro Area Military Honors Team
OFFICIATING: Father Gerard Willger, Father Dennis Meulemans, and Deacon Joseph Stefancin
INTERMENT: Mt. Olive Cemetery, Westboro
VISITATION: 4:00 to 7:00 P.M. Friday, February 22 at the Holy Rosary Catholic Church, Medford where there will be a 7:00 P.M. Prayer Service and also from 9:00 A.M. until 10:45 A.M. Saturday, February 23 at the Holy Rosary Catholic Church, Medford
DATE & PLACE OF BIRTH: November 13, 1926 in Ogema
EDUCATION: 1944 graduate of Westboro High School
MARRIAGE INFORMATION: August 29, 1947 in Chicago, he married Frances “Fran” L. Bishop and she preceded him in death on November 1, 2010.
PRINCIPAL EVENTS IN LIFE: Pep served in the U.S. Army from 1944-1946, while being stationed in Trieste, Italy. After his return from the service, he worked at Steel Setter, was a Fuller Brushman salesman, a musical instrument salesman and also worked on the shipping/receiving dock at Red Ball Trucking Company all in Chicago until moving to the Medford area in July of 1960. Pep then was co-owner and bartender at Tombstone Tap and in July 1962 he became one of the four founding members of Tombstone Pizza, where he served as Chairman of the Board and CEO until the business was sold in 1986. He then established and currently owns Pep’s Pizza in Medford. He is also the previous owner of Embassy Suites/Regency Suites Hotel of Green Bay, Paradise Shores Hotel and Resort, Lake Holcombe, Captain Morgan’s Retreat in Belize, and Enerquip of Medford. They also had numerous businesses in several states. The first ever reality series was filmed at Captain Morgan’s “Temptation Island” in 1999. Pep and Fran began their Philanthropic Services with donations to the Simek Recreation Center, Medford Fire Department, Medford Public Library, Holy Rosary School, Youth Sports Activities, and helped numerous, numerous individuals in the community. They sponsored the Boy Scouts, bowling teams, baseball teams, curling teams, and other groups in the Medford area. Pep was an avid hunter, fisherman, and traveler. He enjoyed attending Packer Games and boating.
MEMBER OF: Holy Rosary Catholic Church, Medford, Premeau-Shauss VFW Post # 7817, Westboro and the Landua-Jensen American Legion Post #147, Medford
In 2012 Pep was inducted into the Wisconsin Business Hall of Fame
SURVIVING CHILDREN: Three Children: Joseph Jr. (Donna) of San Diego, Calif., Lauren (fiancé Dennis Caruso) Simek of Jim Falls and Richard (Ann) of Tucson, Ariz.
4 GRANDCHILDREN: Shannon Simek of San Diego, Calif., Quaid (Jenny) Simek of Tucson, Ariz., Seth (Nicole) Simek of Los Angeles, Calif., and Landin (Tina) Simek of Dripping Springs, Texas
6 GREAT-GRANDCHILDREN
SURVIVING BROTHER/SISTERS: 2 Sisters: Gloria Olmstead of Medford and Vlasta Cummings of Delta Junction, Alaska
3 Brothers: Ronald Simek of Genoa, Nevada, Bill (Mary Ann) Noziska of Casper, Wyoming, and Dan (Judy) Noziska of Juneau, Alaska
Also survived by Nieces, Nephews, Other Relatives and Many, Many Friends
DECEASED FATHER: Josef Simek
DECEASED MOTHER: Vlasta Simek (Maiden Name: Hedlicka)
PALLBEARERS: Quaid, Seth, and Landin Simek, Ernie Olmstead, Blaze Brigman, Joe Peot and Tom LaBarge
OTHER INFORMATION: In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to be made in Pep’s name to the Simek Recreation Center, Medford or to the American Heart Association. Hemer Funeral Homes of Medford and Rib Lake is assisting the family with arrangements -For online condolences, please visit hemerfuneralservice.com
