Menu
Search by Name
Search by Name
WALTER KMIEC Obituary
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for WALTER KMIEC
Jack Terretta
May 17, 2020
Warren and Doug, RIP Mr Kmiec, loved your Dad. He always gave me the benefit of the doubt, even when I didnt deserve it.
Keenan Kmiec
June 24, 2010
The best thing about Grandpa was his enthusiasm. He was a people person, and a teller of great tales. His love of life was infectious. People immediately recognized his charm and goodwill, and they responded to him with kindnesses of their own.
I knew Grandpa when he was retired, so I saw his enthusiasm directed towards golf, fishing, dining out, the Cubs, swimming in the Blue Pool, and stories about playing minor league baseball and flying fighter planes. But most of all, I saw that enthusiasm directed towards his wife and best friend -- Grandma Bea.
My own love of the Cubs (and golf, and Grandma, of course) is no coincidence -- Grandpa was a magnetic personality, and it was impossible not to join him in the things he loved. So it's also no coincidence his grandchildren share his love of people and life in general.
Thanks for that and everything else, Grandpa. You will be missed.
Kiley Kmiec
June 24, 2010
You can't lose Why? Because you have Faith, Courage, and Enthusiasm! This embodied who Grandpa was throughout his life. One who never gave up, even when the love of his life exited this world early. He still kept that same smile, smirk, and with until the end.
I had the pleasure of seeing Grandpa during his last week on earth and though the disease had its firm grasp on Grandpa, he still found a way to smile, laugh, and get frustrated with the Cubs losing. I wouldn't trade those few days for anything in the world, not even 100 straight World Series wins from the Cubs.
His personality was infectious, his stories were enthralling, and his heart was larger than life. I liked to think that I picked up a few these qualities just by having a birthday one day next to his.
He is now re-united with his counterpart where I'm sure Bea is cooking some great meal while Grandpa now looks over from above the legacy he left behind in such a wonderful family.
Always in my heart.
Love Kiley
Mary Gordon
June 14, 2010
My Dear Uncle Wally
Where do I begin....Sometime in my forties.
Yes, Uncle Wally was always my Uncle, but with him living in Tampa, and me in Chicago, the distance kept us close, only at appropriate times. We would exchange Christmas, and Easter cards with notes and a few telephone conversations. Sometime in my forties email became a part of Uncle Wally's life, that is the time that our relationship blossomed. We began to communicate on a regular basis, we would pass jokes, updates on our daily life, we became email buddies. Uncle Wally would advise me on everything, in his usual loving, yet grounded way. I saved all of Uncle Wally's emails, they contain his humor, his words of advice, from my boyfriends who he called "deaf, dumb and blind", because they didn"t appreciate his niece, to his advice on "having a plane fly along Lake Michigan with a banner" advertising my real esate business. With the invention of the cell phone and free long distance calls, we would often talk too. Sometimes when I would walk along Lake Michigan, with my friend Anna Kozlowski, we would call Uncle Wally and pass the phone back and forth to listen to his words of wisdom, story telling, or even a history lesson about our home town Chicago. Anna's deceased father and my dear deceased father would often talk about a guy named Joe Podsodewokim, and somehow in our conversation Uncle Wally mentioned Joe's name. Anna almost fell over in shock when she heard Uncle Wally mention that name. She asked "Uncle Wally, how do you know Joe Podsidewokim"? With that, Uncle Wally began to explain the story, the legend of Joe Podsidewokim.
Uncle Wally and I over the "middle years" of my life, developed such a caring and loving relationship, he became a true part of my adult life. My friends would oftern ask,"how is Uncle Wally"?
When my dear father passed away, Uncle Wally came for his funeral and spent time with me and my mother, his sister. It was a difficult time in which Uncle Wally, as usual, made the time pass with interesting stories about life, his inventions and opinions, he always had a solution. We laughed about his stay, because every time we would pack him up to head for the airport, due to the snow, his flight would cancel. His three day stay turned into three weeks. It was almost like God was telling him to stay a little longer, he was needed.
I will miss my Bucktown Kid, his words of wisdom, his dating and business advice, his laughter, his Faith Hope and Enthusiasm!
He would often say or write:
Dear God, Please make my ears big and strong, so I could listen to Wally, all the day long!
Uncle Wally, I'm still listening, and I know that at certain times in my future years, I will hear you!
With All My Love,
Your Niece
Mary
Dancing With Uncle Wally
Mary Gordon
June 14, 2010
We miss you, Dad
The Kmiec Family
June 7, 2010
1960: Dad takes to politics; Mom objects; JFK Wins!
The Kmiec Family
June 7, 2010
Wooing Mom: "My first and only love."
The Kmiec Family
June 7, 2010
A friendship forged while piercing the dark clouds of WWII over Europe
The Kmiec Family
June 7, 2010
Kmiec in B17 engages in battle campaigns across Europe, including Normandy; wins distinguished flying medal
The Kmiec Family
June 7, 2010
Walter Kmiec,26, as enrolled in engineering in College
The Kmiec Family
June 7, 2010
KC 4th Degree; "You got to have faith, courage and enthuuuuuuuuuuusiasm."
June 7, 2010
1960: Mother objected, Dad politicked; JFK won!, politics iscannot be left to politicians, but then, as JFK knew, a statesman
June 7, 2010
Wooing Beatrice. "The first and only true love of my life. Beatrice was the beauty of love inside and out."
June 7, 2010
"I know this flying bucket of bolts has a heart. I can hear it pounding in my chest."
June 7, 2010
A friendship forged piercing "the dark clouds of Nazi aggression" above Belgium in WWII
June 7, 2010
In the USAF in his B17 "flying fortress"; Kmiec participated in some 35 battle campaigns, including Normandy defending Europe by air
June 7, 2010
Walter Kmiec, 26, then an engineering student at Chicago
June 7, 2010
Kloe Kmiec
June 1, 2010
faith, courage, and enthusiasm....
Grandpa was an incredible human being and one of, if not the most positive person I have ever met. There was no one with better stories to share and I wish I got to hear more. However, I'm sure he's cheering us all on from Heaven with Grandma Bea.
Carol Kmiec
May 30, 2010
Dad was a Rockwell character, right out of one of those expressive tell-a thousand=stories=with=just=a=look paintings. If you sat in the room with him, whether it was 1973 or 2010, you wanted to study his face & body language to figure out what he was thinking & his next move you.
He was a big man, but as graceful on his feet as any Dancing With the Stars winner. And that was just half of his charm. When he took to the stage with his stories he had your attention in a second. He was teaching and telling you something, most often, as amusing Hemmingway. You never knew where it was going or how it would end, but believe me, you smiled and stood there with amazement. Was he pulling your leg or recounting his dreams or the world's demons that were real?
His imagination, ingenuity and great big wonderful heart will never be far from me.
I'll miss and remember you always, dad and thank you everyday for all that you gave us, especially the gift of your sons.
Now go tell mom some stories, she's been waiting for you forever.
Love, Carol
Konrad Diebold
May 26, 2010
Doug,
I was sorry to read about the death of your dad. It's always difficult to lose a parent, no matter how elderly or ill they might be. I hope your dad had an "easy" death, and be confident that he now enjoys fullness of new life in our Lord!
I sympathize with you and your family, but I rejoice with him. He has "finished the race."
Fraternally,
Br. Konrad, FSC
May 24, 2010
Dear Doug and Warren,
My sincerest sympathies on the loss of your dad. I have fond memories of him and your mom so long ago on Dakin Street. I have a particular memory of your dad taking us to St. Hedwig's on a Holy Saturday to have our Easter Baskets blessed.
May he rest in peace.
Pat Grimes
May 23, 2010
Warren and Douglas,
I was sorry to read of your Dad's passing. He was a wonderful man who I very much respected. He always gave me th benefit of the doubt when others wouldn't. You Dad is in a better place.
Godspeed
Jack Terretta
Dad, I carry your enthusiastic presence in me every day. I miss you.
Douglas Kmiec
May 23, 2010
Walter Kmiec
Born, Chicago, Illinois, July 30, 1922
Died, Tarpon Springs, Florida, May 20, 2010
Memorial Mass, Noon, May 22, 2010 at Saint Ignatius of Antioch Roman Catholic Church, 718 East Orange Street, Tarpon Springs, Florida 34689
Internment, Curlew Hills Memorial Mausoleum,
June 2 at 11:00 a.m.
Walter Kmiec, 87, died at home in Florida on May 20 following a several month effort to contain lung and related cancers. Walter is survived by his two sons: Warren W. Kmiec of Stoughton, Wisconsin, patient registrar, University of Wisconsin; and Douglas W. Kmiec of Malibu, California (presently U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Malta), Caruso Family Chair in Constitutional Law (on leave), Pepperdine University. Both sons were at their father’s side as he passed gently from this exile in the early morning hours. Walter is survived by seven grandchildren (Amos and Zachary) and (Keenan, Katherine, Kiley, Kolleen and Kloe; and one great-grandson, Robert Jackson Turner). Walter was pre-deceased by his wife of 60 years, Beatrice Evelyn Neumann. Walter is also survived by his daughter-in-law Carolyn Keenan Kmiec and two sisters, Bernice Gordon of Chicago and Wanda Lapidus of Hoffman Estates, Illinois and his sister-in-law Genevieve Dillberg of Clearwater, Florida.
Walter was a long-time member of Saint Pascal’s Parish in Chicago and an officer of the Holy Name Society; Fourth Degree, Knights of Columbus, Saint Patrick Council, Chicago; a graduate of Chicago Technical College (1954), Walter was an electrical engineer by profession with the Edison Company and the Metropolitan Sanitary District of Greater Chicago, until his relocation to Stonehedge Park in Tarpon Springs in 1979. Walter died 55 years to the day of his honorable conclusion of service in WWII with the B17 bomber group, earning the distinguished air medal and oak leaf clusters for battle campaigns in the general air defense of Europe, including Normandy and Belgium. Walter was the third child of Jan and Mariana Kmiec (his two brothers, John Kmiec and Stephan Kmiec and older sister Antoinette pre-deceased). For many years while in Chicago, Walter was politically active with the Regular Democratic Party, including the 1960 presidential campaign for John Kennedy and six mayoral campaigns. Walter had a life-time interest in the Rosary and liturgical music. An avid golfer, he was also a loyal fan of the Chicago Cubs, while he ecumenically rooted for the White Sox as a municipal duty (when the Sox were not playing the Cubs, of course).
In lieu of flowers, donations are appreciated in Walter’s name to Suncoast Hospice, 5771 Roosevelt Boulevard, Clearwater, Florida 33760 or the Catholic Campaign for Human Development, 3211 4th street N.E., Washington DC 20017. Mass cards and correspondence can be sent to: Kmiec Family, 39820 US Hwy 19N, #136, Tarpon Springs, Florida 34689.
Showing 1 - 24 of 24 results
Make a Donation
in WALTER KMIEC's name
Memorial Events
for WALTER KMIEC
How to support WALTER's loved ones
Honor a beloved veteran with a special tribute of ‘Taps’ at the National WWI Memorial in Washington, D.C.
The nightly ceremony in Washington, D.C. will be dedicated in honor of your loved one on the day of your choosing.
Read more
Should I Send Sympathy Flowers?
What kind of arrangement is appropriate, where should you send it, and when should you send an alternative?
Read more
What Should I Write in a Sympathy Card?
We'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time.
Read moreResources to help you cope with loss
How to Cope With Grief
Information and advice to help you cope with the death of someone important to you.
Read more
Estate Settlement Guide
If you’re in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist.
Read more
Obituaries, grief & privacy: Legacy’s news editor on NPR podcast
Legacy's Linnea Crowther discusses how families talk about causes of death in the obituaries they write.
Read moreWays to honor WALTER KMIEC's life and legacy
Obituary Examples
You may find these well-written obituary examples helpful as you write about your own family.
Read more
Obituary Templates – Customizable Examples and Samples
These free blank templates make writing an obituary faster and easier.
Read more
How Do I Write a Eulogy?
Some basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love.
Read more
