Michael Stephen Walczak

ALGONQUIN – Michael Stephen Walczak, 63, of Algonquin, passed away Sunday, Dec. 13, 2009, after a short but agonizing and cruel battle with cancer.

He was born Oct. 13, 1946, in Buffalo, N.Y., to Stephen and Sophia Walczak.

He served his country in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Vietnam War, where he received a Purple Heart. He was the president of NDK America in Belvidere and will be greatly missed by all those who worked alongside him as friends and co-workers. He positively impacted so many lives and lived an exemplary life. Words cannot express how much he was loved and how much he will be missed. A devoted son, brother, husband, dad "Bacca," uncle, friend, mentor and Marine, he lived his life with style, grace, dignity, sense of humor and above all, an enormous amount of love.

He is survived by his wife of almost 40 years, Cecelia; his daughters, Tara (Jonathan Wayne) Walczak Daege and Tracie Marie (Pankaj Kashiram) Shere; his grandchildren and the lights of his life, Noah Michael Daege, Norah Cecelia Daege, Tehya Ainsley Shere, Lila Grace Shere and Kennedy Cecelia Shere; a sister, Patricia Krzykowski; and his nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and a brother, Ronald R. Walczak.

The visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 17, at James A. O'Connor Funeral Home, 11603 E. Main St., Huntley. He will lie in state from 12:30 until the 1:30 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial is celebrated Friday, Dec. 18, at St. Mary Catholic Church, 10307 Huntley/Dundee Road, Huntley.

His final resting place will be in Hamilton Memorial Park, 4180 Westfield Road, Noblesville, Ind. A visitation will be from 11 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 22, until the 1 p.m. committal service at the Hamilton Memorial Park.

Memorial contributions in his name may be directed to the American Cancer Society, 143 First St., Batavia, IL 60510; St. Jude Research Hospital Tribute Program, P.O. Box 1000, Dept. 142, Memphis, TN 38148 or at www.Stjude.org/tribute; or Riverview Hospital, Memorial Foundation, 395 Westfield Road, Noblesville, IN 46060.

For information, call the funeral home at 847-669-5111.