Paul Argiewicz

Paul Argiewicz

1925 - 2013

Paul Argiewicz, 88, of Paddock Lake, passed away surrounded by his wife Cheryl and his loved ones on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2013, at the Captain James A. Lovell FHCC in North Chicago.

Paul was born on Aug. 6, 1925, to Noah Schwarfuchs and Elka Argiewicz in Bielsko, Poland, where he was arrested at age 10 by the SS for stealing bread for his starving family in the Jewish ghetto. He would spend the next five years of his young life laboring in Nazi concentration camps. His parents, his older sister Phella, and his brother-in-law, Pinchas, along with many other family members did not survive the camps. The familys only other survivor was Pauls beloved sister, Lucy, with whom he was miraculously reunited after the war. His experience as a child survivor of the Holocaust is recounted in the book, Number 176520 The Story of Paul Argiewicz, a Teenage Holocaust Survivor. In recent years, Paul spent a good deal of his time speaking to students in local schools as well as being an honored speaker in libraries, bookstores, congregations, and various other venues. He was proud to be a key speaker in the March of Remembrance in Washington D.C. for several years.

Paul proudly enlisted in the US Air Force on April 1, 1952. During his service as a Crew Chief, his plane was shot down over enemy territory in Korea. The lone survivor of the wreckage, Paul was captured by the enemy and spent a year in a Chinese POW camp. He lost a clavicle and his hearing in one ear as a result of the incident. He was honorably discharged from military service on May 7, 1953.

After returning to America, Paul worked as a steamfitter for many years in Chicago. He was a true entrepreneur, successfully starting and running his own heating and cooling business, Argo Heating and Cooling.

On July 29, 1996, Paul (having been widowed for several years) married Cheryl Erdman (herself a widow). They made a home for themselves in Paddock Lake, Wis., to be near their children, grandchildren, and great grandson.

Paul was a member of Bnai Zedek Chabad of Kenosha for many years where he enjoyed fellowshipping with Rabbi Tzali Wilschanski and fellow congregants. He was committed to living his life for God and humanity.

Paul was a man of deep passion, faith, wisdom, humor, and a consuming love for life. His skills in cooking, finding bargains, fixing things, and knowing just about everything about everything set him apart as a man beloved by all who knew him. Always generous and hospitable, Paul loved to feed people, tell his marvelous stories, and extend help to anyone in need. He was a loyal volunteer in many functions and capacities, particularly in serving his fellow veterans at the Chicago V.A. He adored his wife and family, referring to his grandchildren as his diamonds and his great grandchildren as his pearls.

Paul is survived by his wife Cheryl; his sister, Lucy (Bob) Matzner of Sheboygan; his sister-in-law, Donna Lilley of Cincinnati, Ohio, his children Tom (Judy) Gray of Sheboygan, Fred Argiewicz of Milwaukee, William (Nathalie) Argiewicz of Menominee, MI, the author of his book Deanne Joseph, Cindy (Steve) Nicoletti of Paddock Lake and Howard (Susan) Weiss of Denver, CO, his grandchildren Kyle, Heather (Kyllo), Janess, Cody, Jordan, Noah (Diana), Tamera (Fred), Jaime, Heather (Adam), Christopher (Heather), Zachary, Maxwell, Madeline, Ben and Khava, his great grandchildren Mason, Noah, Mikaila, Ella and Sophia, Cooper, and Parker.

He is preceded in death by his beloved parents; and sister, Phella; his brother-in-law, Pinchas; and his son David.

Funeral Services for Paul will be held on Thursday (TODAY) at 1 p.m. at the Bruch Funeral Home. Interment with Full Military Honors will follow at Bnai Zedek Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Thursday, (TODAY) from 12 p.m. (Noon) until the time of service at the funeral home.

Shiva will be held at the family home 6237 236th Ave., Paddock Lake, Wis., 2 - 4 p.m. and 6 - 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 12 through Wednesday Dec. 18.

Bruch Funeral Home

3503 Roosevelt Road

Kenosha, WI 53142

262-652-8298

Visit Pauls

Online Memorial Book

www.bruchfuneralhome.net