Nicholas S. Dzubay, a large-animal veterinarian who practiced 11 years in the Cameron area before serving as USDA inspector-in-charge at then-Jerome Foods for 24 years, died Sunday, July 17, 2011, at Knapp Haven Nursing Home in Chetek following an accidental fall while recuperating from heart surgery. He was 84.
He was born Sept. 26, 1926, on the family farm in town of Vance Creek, Barron County, to immigrants Steven and Mary (Roman) Dzubay. He was the youngest of eight children.
He attended Meadowbrook country school and Clayton High School until his senior year, when he transferred to nearby Clear Lake to play basketball.
He departed school before graduation in 1944 to enlist in the Army Air Corps. Instead, he was trained as a military policeman and served in Germany and England during the liberation. He was honorably discharged.
He returned to Wisconsin and farmed for a time before enrolling 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 at Cameron while working as a field man for Abbott's Dairy.
In 1964, he returned to the U of M and earned a master's degree in public health, completing his studies and thesis in a year. The family returned to Cameron and he was hired by the U.S. Department of Agriculture as inspector in-charge at then-Jerome Foods. When Jerome's was idle, he traveled to beef and poultry plants in Abbottsford, Minong, Chetek, Eleva, Edgar and Green Bay to provide inspection services. He entered semi-retirement in 1991.
Nick married Shirley A. Beyl on Sept. 9, 1950, at Holy Trinity Orthodox Church. 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.
Nick was ordained a deacon in the Orthodox Church in America in 1973 and remained deeply involved in parish life at Holy Trinity Orthodox Church near Clayton until his death. He directed the church choir for more than 30 years, served on the parish council before becoming a clergy member and helped perform services.
He served 13 years on the Barron City Council, was a long-time member of the Barron County Barbershop Chorus and operated the Holidog Inn boarding kennel from th couple's rural Barron home until shortly before his death.
His love and compassion for animals shaped his life and career. He was also a lifelong learner, passionate gardener, hunter and occasional fisherman. He enjoyed golf, woodworking, traveling and watching high school sports -- especially basketball and baseball.
He is survived by his wife, Shirley; daughters, Alexa (Boris) Geeza, Long Grove, Ill., and Paula McDaniels of Barron; son, Steven (Susan) of River Falls; sister, Olga (Robert) Mommsen of Mercer Island, Wash.; and grandchildren, Anne and Mary McDaniels, Masha and Nick Geeza, and Ella and Isaac Dzubay.
Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m., Friday, July 22, at Holy Trinity Orthodox Church, 523 First St., Clayton. A prayer service will be held at 7 p.m. Visitation will resume for an hour prior to the 10:30 a.m. funeral service at the church on Saturday, July 23. Fr. Christopher Wojcik will officiate, with burial in the church cemetery. For directions, visit www.htocclayton.org.
The family prefers memorials to Holy Trinity Orthodox Church.