William Kaliski

William F. Kaliski
March 9, 1933 to April 17, 2024.
William "Bill" Kaliski, age 91, of Blue Island, IL was finally reunited with his beloved late wife of 64 years, Loretta (nee Kaczmarek) on April 17, 2024. He was a devoted and loving father to his surviving children, Robert (Katie) Kaliski, Ellen (Dan) Shwatal and Debbie Prawiec and a caring and proud grandfather to Amy (Mark) Mantyla, Laura Kaliski, Kellen McDonald, Austin Shwatal, Maddie Shwatal and Nathan Shwatal. He is also survived by his brother, Tom (Barb) Kaliski. He was preceded in death by his parents Mary and Walter Kaliski, his brother Leonard, his sister Alice and his children Mary Ann and Steven. He was a loving uncle and great uncle to many. He was affectionately known as Uncle Bill and Dzia Dzia (a version of "grandpa" in Polish).
Kind, generous, funny, helpful, loyal, reliable, a family man, a lover of nature (especially bees) and food are how many people have described Bill. He was born on March 9, 1933 in Blue Island, the second son of Walter and Mary Kaliski. He attended St. Isadore grade school and Community/ Eisenhower High School. He served in the US Army from 1953 to 1955 as a radio operator. He worked as a printer and in the paint shop at Ford's Chicago Assembly Plant.
He lived only 3 houses away from his childhood sweetheart, Loretta Kaczmarek. They were married on November 8, 1958 and started their married life and family in the apartment above Loretta's parents' house, then moved across the alley in 1967. Bill lived most of his 91 years in less than a square block!
They had four wonderful biological children and then added a foster daughter, Debbie in 1982.
Bill loved to garden, make wine and beer, keep bees, go fishing with his brother, Leonard, play cards and volunteer at church as an usher, at bingo, at the fish fry and making pies and pizza. He was always willing to help in any way he could, always with a smile. Bill and Loretta enjoyed spending time at their cottage in Fish Lake, Indiana and go on adventures to state parks.
His greatest achievement was being Loretta's anchor. She could not have done all the wonderful things she did if it not for him driving her there, chopping food, taking care of her when she was sick and, generally letting her do what she wanted without complaint. He was her right-hand man.
Still waters run deep, they say. He was a quiet man but full of wisdom and laughter. He used to say, "If money can solve your problems, you really don't have any problems." Every person he met, he would ask, "Got any good jokes?" If you didn't, he would pull out one of his own that would make you either laugh or groan.
His memory will live on in our hearts and we hope you will follow his example to tell a joke, volunteer to help, and take care of nature.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to either of the following organizations in his memory: St. Benedict Church-St. Mary Magdalene Parish
2339 York St, Blue Island, IL 60406
or Blue Cap School
2155 Broadway St, Blue Island, IL 60406
Visitation Friday May 3, 2024, from 9 AM until time of Prayer Service 10:30 AM at Hickey Memorial Chapel 2429 W. 127th St Blue Island, IL 60406. Funeral Mass 11 AM St Benedict Church - St Mary Magdalene Parish. Interment Holy Sepulchre Cemetery.