Walter John Chrostowski

Walter John Chrostowski, 66, of College Mound, MO, passed away on Saturday, May 11, 2024.
Walt was born on October 19, 1957 in Buffalo, NY, the son of Stanley and Erna Ann (Graap) Chrostowski. He was united in marriage in 1984 to Karin Garrett in Wisconsin. As a young child his family moved to Carpentersville, Illinois and then to South Wayne, Wisconsin. At the age of 9 or 10, Walt landed his first job running a paper route and a second job at a small gas station. He had his own money! He worked on the family dairy farm, worked two jobs, went to school, and sang in the church choir. Walt hit the world running and never stopped. He was always busy, always moving, being productive, and raising hell.
As a teenager, his family moved to Hollandale, Wisconsin. In 1984, he married his wife of 40 years, Karin. He loved her two children, as his own, and in 1985, he had his son, Tony. He continued to raise hell, but now he had Karin to yell at him about it. Walt became a truck driver at age 19 and drove for 47 years. He met a few close friends on the road, and ran into his fair share of idiots. On his weekends home, he and his family spent so many nights sandbar camping on the Wisconsin River or literally in the river, as the canoe and coolers floated away. He had the habit of losing glasses, tools and Zippo lighters that way.
In 1999, Walt, Karin and Tony moved to Excello, Missouri. Walt and Karin, along with their children, and a few close friends, built their own home, by hand, from the ground up. He was often found in his shop tearing apart someones car, calling it a piece of (expletive), and putting it back together better than ever. He always had a spot by the wood stove for a friend. He was a world class dirty joke teller, but if you one upped him, especially his son-in-law, you were "one sick individual." You could always count on Walt to be honest. Sometimes that honesty wasn't what you wanted to hear, but it's what you needed to hear. To his core, Walt was a helper, teacher, and mentor, and showed his love by action.
Walt loved his wife and his three children fiercely. He was so incredibly proud of his grandchildren, and his great-granddaughter, Emmy, was the apple of his eye. She had grampa wrapped around her finger. All she had to do was smile, and his heart melted. Being called Dad, Grampa, Uncle Wally or Uncle Wallet, brought him immense joy and pride, but only the people he cared about the most got away with "Wally". Walt will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him, and our hearts are broken.
Walt is survived by his wife of 40 years, Karin Chrostowski; his three children, Tony Chrostowski and fiancé Whitney Shaw of Bevier, MO, Christina Bulen and husband Anthony of Columbia, MO, and Rachael Zola and wife Christine Rehm of Rochester, MN; seven grandchildren, Eli, Kingston, Harley, Raven, Valaska, Bianca and Gemma; and one great grandchild, Emerson Sky. He is also survived by his three brothers, David Chrostowski and wife Meta of Hollandale, WI, Mark Chrostowski and wife Vicki of Hollandale, WI, and Robert "Bob" Chrostowski and wife Joree of Albany, WI; five sisters, Patty Benson and husband Robert of Belding MI, Barbara Morgan and husband Les of Monroe, WI, Sharon Lewis and husband Jeff of Orangeville, IL, Robin Peterson and husband Stan of Mineral Point, WI, and Karen Chrostowski and husband Leroy of Lodi, WI; his Uncle Gerald Chrostowski and wife Barb of Newburgh, IN, several nieces, nephews and extended family members.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his infant brother, Stanley Jr.
The family requests that in his memory you raise a toast and sing one of Walt's originals, "I Am So Beautiful To Me". You are beautiful to us, and always will be. A celebration of Walt's life will be planned for a future date.
Arrangements are under the direction of Hutton & McElwain Funeral Home in Macon, MO.