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John Kwiatkowski Obituary
John Edward
John Edward Kwiatkowski, 69, passed away on June 24, 2013, after enduring many health challenges: CHF, COPD and renal failure. He was born July 13, 1943,
to Chester and Valeria
Kwiatkowski.
John is survived by his wife of 47 years, Carol Kasper Kwiatkowski and 3 children, Paul, Connie (John) Collins, Peter, and six grandchildren, Logan Lorenzen, Ethan and Aidan Collins, Joktan (Christina) Rogel, Paulie and Brigitte Kwiatkowski. His brother, James Kwiatkowski, preceded him in death and two sisters survive, Jean Roman, Joyce (Terry) Zakorczeny. He will be missed by his brother-in-law, Fr. John Kasper, OSFS; sisters-in-law, Sr. Mary Ann Kasper of the Servants of Jesus, and Patricia (Tom) Urbaniak. To cherish his memory are several nieces, nephews, cousins, and many friends.
John worked from the time he was very young, starting as Wally the milkman's delivery boy. He was an altar server at St. Hyacinth's as well as at the Mausoleum at Calvary Cemetery. At the age of 9, he began to caddy at Inverness and caddied in the 1957 Open. After graduating from Central Catholic High School in 1961, he joined the Marine Corps and spent 5 years proudly serving his country. He worked for Toledo Edison briefly until the State Department invited him to join the Foreign Service. In 1967, he was assigned to Paris, France. For the next 27 years, he served as a diplomat at the U.S. Embassies in the following countries: Rhodesia, Liberia, New Zealand, The Bahamas, Switzerland, England, Hong Kong, Jamaica, Mexico, Belgium and Austria. John was instrumental in setting up the U.S. Embassy in Yerevan, Armenia; he served as Administrative Officer for the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT II) in Geneva, Switzerland. Numerous commendations from Senators, Congressmen/women, Secretary of State and other dignitaries were awarded him.
Golf was one of his great pleasures and he was fortunate to golf in Scotland at St. Andrews Golf Course; he made a hole in one on the 5th green at Spuyten Duyval, where he worked for 7 years.
After retirement, John worked at Olander Park, Heatherdowns and Spuyten Duyval golf courses. He volunteered for Mobile Meals and the Retired Senior Volunteer Patrol (RSVP) where he visited the sick and home-bound seniors. When his health began to fail, he could no longer continue to do any of those things he enjoyed. He was a member of the Lions Club in New Zealand, the Jamaican American Society, and The Elks in Toledo.
John is a parishioner of Little Flower Church and formerly of St. Pius X. A Memorial Mass will be celebrated by Fr. John Kasper, OSFS at Gesu Church (2049 Parkside Blvd.) at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 29, 2013, followed by a luncheon reception and celebration of John's life in the Sullivan Center parish hall.
Our thanks go to the various doctors, nurses, aides, and hospital staff who helped to manage his health care needs over the past several years.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Servants of Jesus, SJ, 8080 Kinmore Dr., Dearborn Heights, MI 48127 or the Oblates of St. Francis De Sales, OSFS in Toledo.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for John Kwiatkowski
Paul Kwiatkowski
June 22, 2024
This is Paul Kwiatkowski remembering a great man a great father and human being 318-305-1463
paul kwiatkowski
April 19, 2015
This is Paul Kwiatkowski... John's oldest son.. I want to thank you all for your wishes and kind memories.. my number is 419-262-9912
Greg Christ
June 29, 2013
I extend my heartfelt condolences to the Kwiatkowski family on your loss, and I hope that fond memories of John's presence in your lives help to soften the sadness of his passing. I had the good pleasure of getting to know John during a Christmas 1979 trip to London with his brother, Jim, and our good friend, Steve. Carol and Connie were back home in the states for the holidays, so it was just the guys making the best of it, and John was kind enough to welcome us into his home during our stay in London. I remember what a gentle and generous man he was, with an easy manner and a twinkle in his eye. I wanted to cook a Christmas dinner for John and the boys as a way of saying thanks for their welcoming hospitality, and we searched several London markets for rock cornish hens, as my cooking skills were limited but I figured they would be easy to bake and an acceptable, albeit festive, substitute for a traditional American turkey dinner. We couldn't find them anywhere, so we settled on a duck or goose or some other fowl … and suffice it to say, the bird was undercooked and greasy and the dinner was a disaster. John, with all his good humor, just kept encouraging me anyway and acted as if it was the best Christmas dinner he ever had … skills learned from a lifetime of diplomacy, I'm sure! I like to think of John and Jim reunited again, sitting over cups of coffee at the Cosmic Café and laughing about that episode and all the others they shared in their lives. Somewhere on this great planet that John traveled so extensively is a geode with his name on it, and it sparkles with all the good grace, gentle kindness and warmth of spirit that were his unique character. With hugs and fond wishes for the Kwiatkowski family from afar …
June 28, 2013
Carol and family,
God bless you all in this difficult time. John's unique humor will be missed by all of us. Pete and Michelle, Sarah, Ryan and Jocyn, Ben and Sara
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June 28, 2013
John, when we were young I looked up to you and when we were adults I respected you and I always loved you. I will think of you every time I look at my peacock chair. Your suffering has ended so now Rest in Peace. I love you. Joyce
Karen Stapleton
June 28, 2013
Connie and Peter - my deepest sympathies on the loss of your father. I remember many great times with him and you both growing up in places around the world, and was always so excited when he brought you home to Toledo. Never as a child, was I more excited to go to play when you came for home leave, and your Dad was always around! Always remember the good memories as your family transitions on this next stage of life. May John rest in peace and you have comfort knowing he is no longer in pain.
June 28, 2013
We all will miss John, he was a wonderful man. Many of the patients also are saddened by this news.
Staff at Sylvania Dialysis
June 28, 2013
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Father Michael G. Lenz, O.F.M.
June 28, 2013
Dear Carol and family,
I am a 1961 graduate of Central Catholic, and remember John. We were in some classes together. I offer to all of you my condolences. Be assured of my prayers for him, and for all of you at this difficult time. Cherish the memories.
Tom Helfrich
June 28, 2013
What a good man. What a servant What a loss.... What a blessing! You're all in my prayer and I will remember John with a Mass soon.
Blessings,
Fr. Tom Helfrich
June 27, 2013
Carol, please accept our deepest sympathy on the passing of John. Our prayers are with you at this sad time. We are unable to attend the memorial mass but you will be in our thoughts. May John rest in peace now. Jeff & Kathy Grzeszczak
Jennie Matthews
June 27, 2013
My sincere sympathy goes out to all of the Kwiakowski family. Mr Kwiakowski was a great man and will be sorely missed by everyone who knew him. Just know that he is at peace and can finally rest. My love to Caroline, Connie, Peter, and Paul
Bob & Barb Poturalski
June 27, 2013
Dear Carol,Paul, Connie and Peter.
Barb and I want to express our deep sorrow in the loss of John. John and I have been friends for sixty plus years. I will especially miss John and our trip to the Elks and golf. Our paryers and thoughts will be with you all
Carol and John in Venice
June 27, 2013
June 27, 2013
I only new John for a few years. I really enjoyed talking with him. I will miss him. My prayers go out to Carole and Peter.
deb wallace
June 27, 2013
my symathies to Connie, your mom and the whole family. may your dad now be in peace
Jen & Eire Zakorczeny
June 27, 2013
Uncle John will be missed. He was a very respectful man who I am grateful to have had as an uncle. I will always remember our walking Bitsy in a foggy London cemetary as the London fog was rising and being only 8 years old I remember never feeling fear because I was with Uncle John. Thanks for good times and always making Eire smile when she saw you. I'm sorry we never got to golf but I will be thinking of you on the course.
Bob and Jackie Snyder
June 27, 2013
John's great humor and company will be missed at the weekly dinner table. I am sure he has already placed a tee time for a round of golf in heaven. May God comfort you and give you strength in the days ahead.
Mark&Karen Stasa (Szymanski)
June 27, 2013
Kwiatkowski family~ Keeping your family in our prayers. Sorry for this huge loss..What a great man he was...and what a special angel to watch over all of you....Godspeed John
Mark&Karen Stasa (Szymanski)
June 27, 2013
Kwiatkowski family~ Keeping your family in our prayers. Sorry for this huge loss..What a great man he was...and what a special angel to watch over all of you....Godspeed John
Diane and Jim Kaminski
June 27, 2013
We want to express our deepest sympathy to you Carol, and the family. God bless you at this most sorrowful time.
June 27, 2013
Charlie & Lorraine kowalski we will all miss you at the elks you were a good friend even though you cut me up about my mustache st hyacinth will miss you
Annette Rawski DeVoe
June 27, 2013
Dear Carol,
Reading John's obituary in today's Blade brought back fond memories of the years I shared with him at St. Hyacinth School. He grew up to be quite a special man! I am very sorry for your loss. He and you and your family are in my prayers.
With sincere sympathy,
Felicity Strauss
June 27, 2013
Connie, your family is in my thoughts and prayers. Your father was a great man and you could tell he loved his family very much. You have a strong guardian angel watching over you for sure. ?
Michael Fyffe
June 27, 2013
Champ
June 27, 2013
Carol, I wish I could be there to give you a hug. But my heart is with you. God bless. Marilyn Czerniejewski.
Mary Rhoads
June 27, 2013
Dear Carol, Connie, Peter and Paul, We are so sad and sorry that John is no longer with us in this world. We know he is with our Lord and enjoying heavenly golf. I have such fond memories of our days in Geneva, and remember how I'd laugh when I'd walk into his office and see him bending down picking up tiny specs of stuff that dropped on the carpet...so of course I assumed I should do the same. The carpets around the SALT offices were spotless!! John always said nothing in the world was more important to him than his family..and he adored his Sweet Caroline. Sending love and our deepest sympathy. Love, Bob and Mary
June 27, 2013
LOVE YOU FATHER
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