Walter A. Wilczynski

WILCZYNSKI Walter A. Walter A. Wilczynski, 81, of Toledo, OH, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, June 4, 2008, in St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center's Palliative Care Unit where he and his family were gently cared for more than a week by its kind and patient staff. For 36 years, Walter struggled with cardiac complications and overcame many health set-backs through daily prayer and meditation and his devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Walter and his wife, Helen (Dominiak) lived in Toledo's Polish Village for 47 years. They raised a family of five in a home cornered by Wilson Park and Woodward High School. And every year Walter raised a thriving vegetable garden, growing tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers. He would tackle house projects with vigor - from installing spigots and gas stoves to digging house foundations and building garages. Walter and Helen retired to West Toledo in 1993 and traveled together to Maui, St Louis, Minneapolis and Carolina beaches. On April 24 of this year, the couple celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. Since last fall, Walter has resided at the Franciscan Care Center, Sylvania. Walter was born on Friday, March 11, 1927, to Walter and Mary (Strantz). He grew up in South Toledo's Kuszwantz neighborhood and attended Our Lady of Lourdes School and Holland High School. As a member of the U.S. Navy, he proudly served as a Seaman First Class in the South Pacific during World War II. Sailing back near San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge, Walter contemplated building a life there but chose to return to his hometown instead. For more than 40 years, he worked at the Lucas County Courthouse. He started as a yardman and kept the courthouse structurally and mechanically sound until his retirement in October 1988. He topped this jewel of downtown with holiday lights in the winter, adorned its gardens with blooms in the spring and manicured its lawns in the summer. Along the way, he had brushes with famous politicians, including John F. Kennedy and Herbert Humphrey. (When Humphrey left his briefcase at the courthouse, it was Walter who raced to the airport to return it to the statesman.) In the late 1970s, Walter was promoted to Superintendent of Maintenance and Operations of the site, which is on the National Register of Historic Places. Walter was a devout and active member of St. Adalbert Catholic Church. He served as past president of the Holy Name Society and former head usher for Polish liturgies. He was a Democratic Committeeman of the 4th Ward and a lifetime member of VFW Post 5530, proudly serving on its Burial Corps. Walter passed along the virtues of hard work, handiwork and creativity to his children, Cindy (Ben) Barrett, Point Place, Daniel (Barbara), Temperance, MI, Patti (Mike) Lewandowski, Oregon, OH, Debbie (Gary) Kime, Sylvania, OH and Julie (Doug) Fulton, Minneapolis, MN. He also touched the lives of 13 grandchildren, Jeffery (Brandy), Kristy and Matthew (Julie Vanderhorst) Barrett, Laura Jeanette and Eric Wilczynski, Beth (Dr. Tony) Antonoplos, David and Paul Lewandowski, Robert, Stephen and Catherine Kime and Edward and Jenna Fulton. Walter proudly knew all five great-grandchildren, Andrew, Jacob, Nathan, Johnathan and Kendall. Walter was preceded in death by brothers, Richard and Bobby. Family and friends may visit on Friday from 2-8 p.m. and Saturday from 9-11:30 a.m. in the Sujkowski Funeral Home Northpointe, 114-128 East Alexis Rd., where members of St. Adalbert Church will lead a Rosary at 4:30 p.m., and VFW Post 5530 members will lead a service at 7 p.m. Funeral Services will begin on Saturday at 11:30 a.m. in the funeral home and continue with the Funeral Mass in St. Adalbert Church at 12 noon. Members of the VFW Lambertville Post 9656 will conclude with a military committal service in Resurrection Cemetery. Thanks to the Alexis Dialysis Center for taking tender care of Walter. And to Dr. Christopher Bates, Dr. Gregory Kasper and his nurse, Sheila for treating and knowing the man behind the medicine. Those wishing to make a contribution in Walter's memory may send it to St. Adalbert Catholic Church or the Kidney Foundation of Northwest Ohio. Please view and offer online condolences at www.sujkowski.com