Henry A. Karch, 96, formerly of Custer, died Monday, May 2, 2016, at the Willow Brooke Point Nursing Home in Stevens Point where he has been residing the past five years.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, May 7, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Polonia, with the Rev. Greg Michaud officiating. Burial with full military honors will be in the parish cemetery.

Visitation will be at the church from 9:30 a.m. Saturday until the Mass.

Shuda Funeral Services in Stevens Point and Plover assisted
with arrangements. Condolences may be offered online at www.shudafuneral.com.

Mr. Karch was born April 22, 1920, in Custer, a son of the
late Michael and Frances (Wysocki) Karch. He attended local schools, and worked
on the family dairy farm.

He entered the U.S. Army in 1942. He served in France,
Germany, and Belgium as a tank commander during World War II. He saw action at
the Battle of the Bulge when his unit, the 705th Tank Destroyer Battalion, was
attached to the 101st Airborne Division. They were surrounded in Bastogne during
Christmas 1944. He was honorably discharged in 1945 and earned the American
Theater Ribbon, Victory Medal, Eastern Theatre Ribbon with 1 battle star, Good
Conduct Medal, Purple Heart, Distinguished Unit Badge GO 31 TUSA 1945.

After returning from the war, he learned the tool and die trade
in Milwaukee and Chicago.

He was married to Mildred Kolecki in 1951.

The couple settled in Chicago. After retiring in 1985, they
moved back to the area, where he grew up, near Polonia.

Survivors include his wife, Mildred; two sons, John (Denise) Karch, Lake Zurich, Ill., and Henry B. (Mary)
Karch, Woodbury, Minn.; one sister, Wanda Domaszek, Stevens Point; and two
grandchildren.

He was also preceded in death by five brothers, Andrew, Dan,
Ray, Michael and Edward; and four sisters, Alice, Helen, Mattie and Agnes.