Sunday, January 26, 2025
July 26, 1925-December 15, 2024
Age 99
Alex was born July 26, 1925, in Wausaukee, Wisconsin to Stanislaw “Stanley” and Stanislawa “Stella” Kawka, the youngest of thirteen children. He is preceded in death by his wife, Florence, by his parents, and all siblings, sisters, Irina, Isabelle, and Martha, and brothers, Boleslaw, Matthew, Sigmund, Leo, Stanley, Stephen, Edward, Tedow, and
Philip. He is survived by two sons, Michael Kafka (Karina Alderton), and Mark Kafka, along with numerous nieces, and nephews.
Alex grew up on a dairy farm in Wausaukee where he at‐ tended Catholic School. He excelled in math and enjoyed playing the violin. In his early teens, with all his siblings serving in WWII, he ran the farm with his father.
Alex proudly served in the United States Army in WWII, where he served in The Military Government Team in Akita, Japan. After returning home, he moved to Chicago, where his parents and some siblings now lived. He worked two jobs and saved his money to “Get out of the city”. In July 1952, he married Florence Naglowski and they had fifty years together.
In May of 1959, Alex and Florence purchased land on Lake George where they raised two boys. A month later he started building the first of what would be ten cottages along with a home and bar. He rented the first cottage on June 2, 1960, and that very same cottage is still being rented sixty-four years later at the time of his death. Kafka’s Rainbow Resort had cottages with all the colors of the rainbow. Soon the name would be changed to Kafka’s Resort.
Alex had many friends from all walks of life that came to the Resort. There was always lots of fun along with many horse‐ shoe tournaments. His favorite horseshoe partner was T. Texas Tyler, a Country Music Hall of Fame Inductee who spent many summers at the Resort. Many came to the Resort the same week every year and it was always a big reunion. Many have been coming back for decades. They included Mr. and Mrs. Ariens, the snow/lawn equipment founders who have been staying at the resort for over twenty years, Major League Pitcher, Harvey Kitzman, Pro Golfer, Dan Forsman, and a Kentucky Derby winning Jockey. These are just a few of the countless great families that stayed at his Resort.
Alex always said he built the place for kids. He built a beautiful beach and a large playground. Every Saturday, there was a trail of kids clothing down to the beach. The kids wore their swimsuits under their clothes on the way up to the Re‐ sort. The kids were always excited to meet up with and play with their friends they had not seen for a year. Every Saturday there were kids with tears not wanting to leave. One of the best things was to see the dozens of next generations coming back. The longest family had vacationed at the Re‐ sort for fifty-five years and was into their fifth generation.
Then there was the bar and recreation room overlooking the Resort. It was a “Jumping Place” with piano, guitar, accordion, violin, and of course a stump fiddle players. Most nights it was hard for Alex to get the people back to their cottages by 3am with him having to work in the morning.
Alex was a founding member of the Town of Pelican Fire Department. He purchased an Evinrude outboard, donating it to the department for them to raffle off. That money was used to purchase the first Pumper for the department. He was instrumental organizing the Snowbound Country Snowmobile Club. With his Jeep pickup and old chainsaw, Alex and a handful of men cut every trail for the east side Rhinelander club. The first groomer would be delivered to his driveway. At the time, Alex and that handful of guys funded the entire club, reaching into their own pockets to purchase the equipment, signs, gas along with any other items. As club President he spent many seasons grooming trails. He was a long‐ time member of the Rhinelander Lions Club. For over a decade he collected the most donations for the White Cane Day fundraiser. He was a member of St. Mary’s/Nativity Parrish since 1959. In 1961, he worked tirelessly helping raise funds to build the current church. He bought, cleaned, and donated all the smelt for the first St. Mary’s famous smelt fry. His wife Florence would make all the potato salad. Alex was President of Better Resorts and then the Rhinelander Chamber. He was a prominent factor in developing Rhinelander Tourism.
Alex loved music since he was a youngster. Kafka’s Resort Bar always had music going, either live or from the Jukebox. Even in his last days he was singing to the staff at Rennes. He taught his boys to work hard and to hunt and fish. He en‐ joyed fishing for bluegills the most. Even in his mid-90’s Alex would bluegill fish every spring. He was also an avid gardener, but what he enjoyed the most was to work. At age ninety-seven, Alex still made all his own appointments, cut all the lawn, raked, drove the tractor and used a chainsaw. On his ninety-eighth birthday he was still cutting all the lawn at his Resort.
Alex was a generous man, always willing to lend a hand. He had a wonderful life, saw many things and changes take place. As a youngster he took his mother by horse and buggy to the General Store to trade eggs for credit to buy necessities. Now it’s a few clicks on the phone and the eggs are at your doorstep. Many wonderful friends came through Kafka’s Resort including maybe his best friend, T. Texas Tyler. He called him “Hi Neighbor” because that is how he greeted everyone. Tyler wrote songs and played at Alex’s bar for many summers.
Alex always said, “Everything in moderation ….EXCEPT work”.
The visitation for Alex was held on Wednesday, evening, December 18, 2024, at the Hildebrand Funeral Home from 5:00 pm until 7:00 pm. The second visitation took place on Thursday, December 19, 2024, at Nativity of Our Lord Catholic Church, from 10:00 am until the 11:30 am Mass of Christian Burial. Fr. Chris Kemp officiated.
Immediately following the mass, there was a procession to Nativity of Our Lord Catholic Cemetery where the Committal Service and military honors took place.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the Hildebrand Funeral Home & Cremation Specialists, 24 E. Davenport Street, Rhinelander, Wisconsin, 54501, 715-365-4343. Everyone is invited to leave an online condolence at www.hildebrandrussfh.com.
