William Richard Walasek Sr.

William (Bill) Richard Walasek, Sr., 72 years old, formerly of Niagara Falls, passed away Monday, January 21, 2008 in Atlanta, GA. Bill was born on December 29, 1935, the son of the late Eva (Kapela) and William A. Walasek. When Bill was 3 years old, his mother passed away and he joined the extended family of his grandparents, Casmir and Karolina Walasek and their children. A graduate of LaSalle High School, he received a full scholarship to Bucknell University where he played football, basketball and baseball, and was a member of Theta Chi Fraternity. After graduating, he was drafted by both the NFL and the U.S. Army. Bill married Ramona (Mona) Wroblewski of Carneige, PA in 1958. Bill joined the Army and he and Mona were stationed in Paris, France. After the Army, Bill and his wife, Mona settled in Mount Lebanon, PA, where they had three children, June, Leanne and Bill. In 1968 Bill and his family moved to Atlanta, GA. He retired after 40 years with Wyeth. Bill was a high school football referee, an avid ALTA tennis player and a past President of the Atlanta chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Bill and Mona were active members of St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church and were involved in many ministries over the years such as the Malachi Storehouse. In recent years, Bill and Mona have performed with the Euro Volk dancers. Bill will always be remembered as a true gentleman with a ready smile, great stories and a willingness to always help others. Bill is survived by his loving wife of 49 years, Ramona Wroblewski Walasek; daughter, June Akin and her husband, Keith of Duluth, GA; daughter, Leanne Walasek of Chamblee, GA; son, William Walasek, Jr. and his wife, Carol of Park City, UT as well as grandchildren, Kelly and Kristen Akin and Will and Josh Walasek. In addition, he was the brother of Robert Walasek of Wheatfield, NY, Clara Wojtowicz and her husband, Ben of Lewiston, NY, Susan Walasek, Carol Hardin and the late Frank Mazanka and wife, Phyllis of Niagara Falls. He is also survived by aunts, Cecelia Wisz of Atlanta, Estelle Hriczak, Martha Bulinski, Theresa Zielinski and Bernadette Lachowski of Niagara Falls, as well as Renee Dunaj of Amherst, NY and many nieces, nephews and cousins. He was predeceased by aunts, Sophie Bozek, Kay Apen, Clara Zankowski; uncle, Henry Walasek and step-mother, Mary Walasek, all formerly of Niagara Falls.The family will receive friends on Thursday, January 24th from 6:00-8:00 PM at H.M. Patterson and Son Funeral Home in Brookhaven, GA, followed by a memorial service on Friday, January 25th at 1:00 PM at St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church, also in Dunwoody, GA. A memorial service will be held in Pittsburgh and Niagara Falls at the family’s convenience. Memorial contributions may be made in his memory to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (www.jdrf.org).