A Message from Marjorie Wrezic:
I have chosen to establish the Hamilton Education Foundation Marjorie Wrezic Scholarship to assist deserving students at Hamilton High School to gain post-secondary education. I have had a long life full of more experiences than you can imagine and have learned the value of hard work and a good education.
The youngest of 6 children, (five of us which survived) I was born in 1927, just before the depression on a small farm in Arcadia, Wisconsin. There was no running water, no electricity, no insulation, and a dirt cellar under the kitchen with a trap door in the floor entrance. The only source of heat was from a pot-bellied wood stove in the kitchen. At that time, my brothers walked a good mile to the Reck Schoolhouse and back. There were eight grades in a single room, all taught by one teacher.
In 1931, with the poor economic factors, Father took a creamery truck route, and the family was moved off the farm into the old priest’s house at Glencoe Church. We kids were in charge of taking care of the cemetery there, and we were now only three blocks from the Cowie School. My brother Archie recalls how excited he was to go to school with 46 other children and his fond memories of the teacher there, Miss Mary Hunter, whom he thought was the best teacher in the land and who had a great deal of influence on his life. I also remember when my brother Mike was not allowed to attend school because he had no shoes. And, it was Miss Mary Hunter that bought him the shoes so he could come to class.
Then, in 1933, we moved to Milwaukee, where we opened a small grocery store. My Father would wake us at 3 o’clock in the morning to start the daily chores, like wrapping butter, butchering chickens, and preparing the store. All was to be accomplished before we were allowed to go to school. Here we attended St. Thomas Aquinas, a big step from the small schools of Arcadia.
At age 15, my Mother passed away after years of hard work. It was a difficult time. However, I continued my education at St. John’s Cathedral, where I met a teacher, Sister Mary Constantine. I remember her fondly to this day. She was a superior teacher, mentor, and a source of great guidance. And, oddly enough, the sister of Miss Mary Hunter, one of my brother’s favorite teachers from Arcadia. Although the children of our family had a rough start, all of us were able to provide well for our families. Two of my brothers became very successful businessmen. After school, I continued to work hard, raised three children of my own, and have had a very blessed life. It is my goal to give back some of the blessings I have received to help children who want to succeed and continue their education, but who might not otherwise be able to do so because of the high costs of college.
I must also thank my late husband, Ralph Wrezic, without whom this scholarship would not be possible. Ralph was the son of immigrant parents. He was an extremely intelligent man, who started his first trucking business at the age of 17. He, too, had a difficult start in life, having his Father seize his first business because he was underage. Ralph began again and, through his education and perseverance, started his second trucking company. He created the wealth that allows me to provide these scholarships today. He was the owner of J W Cartage Company and several other businesses.
I have chosen to establish the scholarship to assist you in pursuing your dreams. I urge you to use your skills and resources. Remember that no matter the difficulties in life, “Learn from your Mistakes” and always “Apply Yourself.”
Congratulations and Best Wishes for much success in the future.
- Marjorie Wrezic
