Daniel J. Dombrovski

Mass of Christian Burial celebrating the life of Daniel Joseph Dombrovski, age 88, of St. Cloud will be at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, January 13, 2015 at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in St. Cloud. Daniel died peacefully at St. Cloud Hospital on Jan. 9, 2015. Reverend Gregory Leiser will officiate. Burial will be in Assumption Cemetery with military honors.

Family and friends may call from 4:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. on Monday and after 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday at the Daniel Funeral Home in St. Cloud. Parish prayers will be at 6:00 p.m. on Monday at the funeral home, St. Cloud.

Dan was born on April 23, 1926 in St. Cloud, Minnesota to Emanuel and Stella (Maslowski) Dombrovski. He attended St. Mary’s Elementary, Central Junior High and Technical High schools in St. Cloud. Dan was united in marriage to RoseMary Kostreba on Nov. 14, 1950 at St. Columbkille Catholic Church in St. Wendel. As a youngster he worked for the St. Cloud Times and Al’s Title Station. He proudly enlisted in the US Navy and served in the Pacific corridor from 1944-1947. Dan was a hard worker, and was employed by Piggly Wiggly, Northwest Oil Co., Stearns Manufacturing as second jobs, and from 1944-1986 worked for Great Northern, Burlington Northern and Amtrak Railroads. He was a member of St. Peter’s Catholic Church since 1950. He belonged to VFW Post 4847, serving as Post commander from 1986-87 and All State Commander from 1987-1988, Waite Park American Legion 428, a life member of VFW National Home for children, Eaton, MI, BNSF Veteran’s Association, National Association of Retired and Veteran Railway Employees Inc. and Transportation, Communications International Union. For years, Dan took great pride in his involvement in rituals for area veterans at funerals, burials, in parades and offered Buddy Poppies at area businesses around Memorial Day. His last conversation with his son John in 2010 was a phone call on Memorial Day, thanking dad for his service to his country.

Dan will be remembered as a caring husband, dad, grandpa, great- and great-great-grandpa and friend. Dan was proud of his service to his country and often shared stories of his service time. He assisted in building many houses, including the one he lived in his entire adult life, and assisted his children in the building of their homes. He loved working with wood, had an inventive mind and created many sturdy pieces of furniture that are cherished by family and friends. Dan also made countless birdhouses that can be seen throughout the area. He grew awesome tomatoes, loved to fish and took his kids and grandkids fishing on many occasions. Dan was fond of polka music, head cheese, pickled fish and mince meat pie. He was an avid Twins fan and enjoyed all sports, liked a good cribbage game and couldn’t be interrupted during Wheel of Fortune. Dan had an excellent memory (could state railway mileage from St. Paul to any city in Minnesota) and served as an unofficial ambassador to St. Cloud, welcoming hundreds of visitors to the area through his work as an Amtrak agent. He was incredibly generous and favorite word he often spoke was “harmony”. He will be missed!

Dan is survived by his children: Michael, St. Cloud; Betty (Gene) Pundsack, Foley; Carol (Ed) Kacures, Rice and Bill (Duane Brooks), Portland, Oregon; grandchildren: Cheri, Josh, Kristy (Dave), Jeremiah and Jason (Kristy); great-grandchildren: Jessica, Stephanie, Logan, Joseph, Tyler, Evan, Frances, Ella, Philip and Dean and great-great grandchild Annabelle; brothers Hub, St. Cloud, Roger, Waite Park and sister Vivian McCann, Ft. Myers, Florida.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife RoseMary (2007), son John (2010) and brother Marvin and sister Evelyn.

Special thanks to VAMC home health nurse Karen for her wonderful attentiveness to dad throughout the years and to the staff of 5 North at St. Cloud Hospital for their compassion during dad’s brief stay.