Chester J. Waszkiewicz

WASZKIEWICZ, Chester J. "Chet"
Kalamazoo, MI Chester John Waszkiewicz passed away Monday, September 12, 2011 following a brief illness. His twinkling eyes, ready smile and gregarious nature will be greatly missed, but live on in the hearts of his family and friends. Chet was born February 17, 1928 in Chicago, IL, to Polish immigrants Mary and Anthony Waszkiewicz. As a young child he moved with his family to a farm in Three Oaks, MI. He followed his sister Emily and brother Ed into the U.S. Navy and served before and during the Korean War in Florida and Washington, DC. While in Washington he met then-President Harry Truman and his daughter Margaret at a White House picnic for service personnel. Following an honorable discharge from the Navy, Chet earned his bachelor's degree and teaching certificate at Western Michigan University and was a member of Delta Epsilon fraternity. He later went on to earn a Master's degree in teaching and subsequently won a grant to participate in a summer professional development program at the University of California-Berkeley. He married Carol Senne in 1958 with whom he had five daughters. They subsequently divorced. Chet had a knack for dealing with unruly teenagers and was a popular social studies teacher for nearly three decades at Hillside Junior High School. Following his retirement from teaching Chet was invited to Poland to provide corporate training in English and economics in the new post-Communist business environment. Chet was a skilled woodworker and carpenter who built furniture and four houses. He enjoyed Glenn Miller and Frank Sinatra, among others, and liked to polka with his daughters. He loved spending time at Lake Michigan and also enjoyed gardening, traveling, camping, and cooking, particularly his signature dishes, baked beans and vegetable soup. He was an active volunteer for the local and state Democratic Party and was often found with old and new friends at Bell's Brewery. He loved animals and rarely was without one or more cats and dogs, most recently, his dog Joe Jackson and cats Baxter and Midi. He was preceded in death by his parents, his sisters Genevieve and Emily and brother Matthew. Survivors include his partner of 27 years Audrey Pore, his five daughters: Suzy Powell of Dayton, OH; Betsy Tim Bennett of Portage; Margaret Paul Sampson of Dayton, OH; Stacy Jim Ross of St. Louis, Mo.; and Angie Waszkiewicz of Boulder, CO; eight grandchildren: Caitlin Powell of Dayton, OH; Erin Powell of Boston; Chelsea Powell of Dayton; Carson Cornish of Kalamazoo, Chloe Bennett of Portage; and Ryan, Shea and John Sampson of Dayton, OH; brothers Ed Jackie of Oxnard, CA; and Bob of LaCrosse, WI; and many cousins and friends around the country and throughout the world. Special thanks to his friend Bill Parthun who enriched Chet's final years immeasurably. Chet's family and friends will gather on Thursday from 4-8pm at Langeland Family Funeral Homes, Westside Chapel, 3926 South 9th Street, to remember Chet and share memories of his life. Memorial Mass with cremains will be celebrated 11:00 Friday morning at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 936 Lake Street, with Fr. Wieslan Lipka, Presider. Inurnment with military honors will follow in Grand Prairie Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, Chet's family requests memorials be directed to S.P.C.A. of Southwest Michigan. Please visit www.langelands.com to sign Chet's online guest book or leave a condolence to his family. 269-343-1508