Joseph “Joe” Solonika

Joseph “Joe” Solonika of Redgranite passed away on Sunday, February 25, 2024 at the age of 85. He was born in Revloc, PA on May 23, 1938 to Michael and Marie (nee Drotar) Solonika. He married Bonnie Bichler on March 14, 1970, at St. Rose of Lima in Fredonia and together they had three children together. They were married for 54 years.
At the age of 15 years old, Joe started traveling around the country to live with his brothers and sisters, coming back to the Pittsburgh area to graduate from Westinghouse High School in 1956. He attended college at Penn State University as well as M.S.O.E before accepting a job as a Sales Engineer at Modern Equipment Company in Port Washington, WI in 1966, retiring 37 years later in 2003. It is here in Port Washington that Joe met the love of his life, “his Bonnie.” He married Bonnie in 1970 and started raising his family in Cedar Grove, WI. After a few years, Joe and Bonnie moved their family to Fredonia, WI, in 1978.
In his early years, he was an avid bowler and loved to trap shoot with his friends Don Savatski, Roger Wach, and Jerry Marciniak in Waukesha, WI. Joe also loved spending time outdoors, taking his family “up north” to go fishing in Pickerel Lake, WI. As his boys developed a heavy involvement with athletics, Joe never missed any of their games from grade school, through high school and beyond. During this time, he developed lifelong friendships with the Schimberg, Crass, Jacoby, and Quade families, as well as many other families in the community. He loved taking the teams to Harrington Beach State Park after ball games and baseball tournaments. He was always up for having a simple bonfire in his backyard with friends and family.
One of his favorite hobbies was boating on the Wolf River, which drew Joe and Bonnie to move to Redgranite, WI to be closer to the Wolf River in 2007. There he lived with his Bonnie for 17 years until his recent passing. Throughout his life, Joe rarely put himself before his family and friends. Whether it be fixing a car in the garage, loaning a tool, or helping on many household projects, Joe always made time to help. He loved playing sheepshead and cribbage with his friends, and rarely missed any of Larry’s fish boils and Super Bowl parties. Taking great pride in America, he proudly displayed the American Flag every day of his life. He was a devout Byzantine Catholic, celebrating Christmas on the Epiphany, every year with his family on January 6th. He carried with him his favorite award on his keychain from the State of Pennsylvania for not having any speeding tickets for 3 years straight.
Joe was many things to many people. Husband, Father, Relative, and friend. “To know Joe is to love Joe.” He will be dearly missed and remembered by friends and family throughout their lives.
Those left to cherish Joe’s memory are his wife Bonnie, children Joseph “J.J.” (Jill) Solonika of Belgium, WI, Michael (Peggy) Solonika of Greenbush, WI, and Erik Solonika of Fredonia, WI; grandchildren, Kirsten (Kevin) Bruns, Deklan Solonika, Morgan Solonika, Zachary Solonika, Kayla Solonika, and Aidan Solonika. He was preceded in death by his siblings Helen, Michael, John, Peter, Paul, Mary, Ann, and Margaret. A heartfelt thank you from the Solonika family to the staff members at Theda Clark Regional Medical Center of Neenah, WI.
A Mass of Christian Burial for Joe will be held at 1:00pm on Saturday, March 9, 2024 at Divine Savior Catholic Parish, Holy Cross Chapel, 5330 County Rd. B, Belgium, WI 53004. The family will receive visitors at church from 10:00am until 12:45pm. Joe will be laid to rest at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery in Port Washington March 11th, 2024, at 11am.
The Eernisse Funeral Home of Port Washington is assisting the family with arrangements. On-line condolences may be left at www.eernissefuneralhome.com