Thomas E. Rolnicki

Thomas E. Rolnicki Age 60 of St. Louis Park, Min., passed away in the arms of the Lord on December 20, 2009 in Hospice Care in Min. He was born May 13, 1949 to Edward and Pauline 'Polly' (Lewandoski) Rolnicki in Wausau. Tom attended St. Anne and Newman Catholic Schools, Wausau and graduated from UW Madison with a degree in Journalism and went on to graduate with a Masters Degree in Journalism at Iowa State, Ames Iowa. Tom taught high school in Medford and Marshfield and Ames, IA. He taught Journalism at conferences throughout the US and various countries around the world. He wrote more than 500 educational booklets, co-authored Scholastic Journalism a textbook for High School Journalists, was a director of Quill & Scroll Literary Society, taught journalism courses as an adjunct instructor at Iowa State and University of Minnesota, served on the Board of Student Press Law Center, JEA, National Commission for Co-Curricular Education, the National Collegiate Newspaper, Educational Communications, Inc. and every Penny Counts/Aids Emergency Fund. He co-founded the Professional Publications Association. Tom received the Gold Key award from Columbia University, New York, Carl Towley and Medal of Merit Awards from JEA, and fellowship Award from photographic Arts and Science Foundation. Tom was a former Executive Director of National Scholastic Press Association and National Collegiate Press and recently retired as instructor at the Minnesota School of Business, Brooklyn Center MN and its campuses. Tom is survived by his mother Polly, Wausau; sister, Catherine (Earl) Molstad, Wausau; brother, Don (Cherye) Rolnicki, Stevens Point; nieces, Ann (Ray) Hessil and Pamela (Tim) Koch and their children, Thomas (Godson of Tom) and Emma Hessil, Carson and Kiley Koch; God mother Mayme Rozmenoski, Alan Heider friend of Tom and his family and many other friends and family. He was preceded in death by his father Edward Rolnicki. The memorial mass will be 11:30 a.m., Saturday, January 2, 2010 at The Church of St. Anne. Rev. Steven Brice will preside. Burial will be in Restlawn Memorial Park, Wausau, at a later date. Friends may call on Saturday from 9:30 a.m. until the time of services at the church. Memorials may be given to the Church of St. Anne Church, Wausau, in Tom's memory or to the Student Press Law Center, Washington DC. "I have passed the mountain peak and my soul is soaring to the Lord to complete and unbounded freedom, I am in comfort, I am in peace". Peterson/Kraemer Funeral Home , Wausau, is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be expressed at www.petersonkraemer.com