John Olech

OLECH, John
Kalamazoo John passed away on April 1, 2011 in Florida. He was born April 29, 1934 in Kalamazoo, the son of Walenty and Lucy Pienkos Olech. John attended Roosevelt School and Kalamazoo Central High School, graduating in 1952. He attended the University of Michigan and Western Michigan University, graduating in 1957 with a Bachelors Degree in Physics and Math. He served in the United States Army from 1957 to 1958. He married the love of his life, Ruth Berghoff, on April 12, 1958. Together they had three children, Mike, Tom and Jean. John�s career began at Clarage Fan Company in the Research Dept. and advanced to become the national sales manager. He was with the company for 20 years. He was then hired at Air Engineering Company as a Sales Engineer and excelled in Industrial Air Moving and Pollution problems. With two other co-workers he purchased the company and retired in 1996. John was active in Little League and Boy Scouts, having been a Scoutmaster. He was very active in the Community involved with the Kalamazoo River Watershed Council for 12 years, attempting to better the Kalamazoo River. He was a member of the Kalamazoo Township Tax Board of Review for several years. John enjoyed the challenges of restoring and collecting. He restored both old cars and tractors and collected Kalamazoo memorabilia. John never met a man he didn�t like and would speak to everyone. He was a very kind and loving man to all. Surviving are his wife, Ruth; his sons and their families, J. Michael Margaret Olech; Thomas Melinda Olech; six grandchildren, Jacob Hannah Olech, Jared Olech, Elizabeth Olech, Jean Marie Olech, Benjamin Olech, Madeline Jean Olech; two great grandchildren, Brianna Olech and Caleb Olech; many nieces, nephews and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; his daughter, Jean Terese; his sisters, Jean Olech and Wanda Ann Sackett; his brothers, Walter Olech, Joseph Bucior. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Msgr. Thomas Martin on Friday at 10:00 AM in St. Augustine Cathedral, 542 W. Michigan. Interment will follow in Mt. Olivet Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the Langeland Family Funeral Homes, Memorial Chapel, 622 S. Burdick St. on Thursday from 2-4 and 6-8 PM, where a Rosary Service will be held at 7:00PM. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Boy Scouts of America, Kalamazoo Chapter or the charity of ones choice. Please visit www.langelands.com for online obituary, directions, register book and condolences. 269 343-1508