Stephen T. Penzkowski

Racine – Stephen T. Penzkowski, 86, passed away at the Aurora Memorial Hospital of Burlington on Thursday, May 6, 2010. Born in Black Creek, WI on December 26, 1923 to Peter and Caroline Penzkowski, Steve is survived by his wife, “Jan” Jessie Audrey; two daughters, Bridget (Tom) Habetler of Snellville, GA, and Tanja (Jay) Gilray of Kenosha, WI; grandchildren, Heather (Torin) Bakula-Forst , Mark (Amanda) Bakula, Stephanie Bakula, and Michael and Brendan Habetler. Also surviving are brother, Leon (June) Penzkowski , sister, Lenora Baldukas, sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law: LaVerne Penzkowski, Milwaukee; Audrey Jensen; Becky (Don) Hess, Mankato, MN; Vera (Bob) Shafer, Murrayville, IL; LaWanda (Jerry) Martin, East Alton, IL; Clarence (Joy) Bequeaith, Mesa, AZ; Virginia (C.J.) Jensen; Joyce Bequeaith, Huntington Town MD; Doris Bequeaith, White Hall, IL; and many nieces and nephews. Cousins Helena (Czeslaw) Zielinski and Zygmunt (Krystyna) Stanislawek, Lublin, Poland; Edward (Czeslawa) Peczkowski, Wandalin, Poland; and their families. The son of immigrants from Poland, Steve spent his early childhood in Chicago and areas of Wisconsin and Minnesota. He and his siblings learned to speak English in school. Steve was athletic and excelled in baseball in school, and as an adult played softball and slow pitch for several leagues. He also golfed and bowled in several leagues. Steve worked for Western Printing, Massey Ferguson and J. I. Case, leaving Case for a tour of duty with the U. S. Army during World War II. He served as a medic in the 155th General Hospital in England and Belgium and “B” Battery of the 460th Anti-Aircraft, First Army, in Germany, France, Luxemburg and Czechoslovakia. Besides caring for his Army buddies, he also on more than one occasion delivered a wounded German soldier to a nearby German hospital. During his tour in Germany, unknown to him at the time, his brother, Chester was in Munich with the 3rd Armored Division, just a few miles away. Honorably discharged, he was sent home to be with his family during his father’s terminal illness. He returned to J. I. Case Co. A bout with cancer forced Steve to retire from J. I. Case after 42 years of service. He survived cancer four times and fully recovered. He credited his “bonus” years to Dr. Schleper, whose discovery sent him to Mayo Clinic. Steve excelled in his garden, producing tomatoes to be envied, dinner plate-sized dahlias, and prize-winning chrysanthemums. He was a past member of the Racine Chrysanthemum Society. He even made his own beer for a while, and his buddies fought over his crock pickles. He looked forward to Pheasant season, and he and his English-Setter, Belle, brought home many trophies. He loved his visits to Atlanta and Disney World, and time spent with his children and grandchildren. Birthdays usually meant that he would make Grandpa’s Special Apple Pie for the birthday honoree. His favorite spot in the summer was in a chair, overlooking his garden and the open fields. He enjoyed Bingo at Roma Lodge and occasional visits to casinos, and anxiously awaited the golf outings with his brother-in-law, Don Hess on the greens in Minnesota. Steve was preceded in death by his parents; brothers Chester, Alfred, Edward and Theodore Penzkowski; sisters Loretta Ruppel, Helen Adams and Stella Penzkowski; sister-in-law Mary Penzkowski; brothers-in-law Henry Ruppel, Al Adams, Chris Baldukas, Gene Bequeaith, Junior Bequeaith and Donald Bequeaith. Funeral services will be in the funeral home on Wednesday, May 12, 2010 at 10 am. Interment, with military honors, will follow in West Lawn Memorial Park. Visitation will be in the funeral home on Tuesday from 5-8 pm and on Wednesday from 9-10 am. The family wishes to thank ER Dr. Manske, Dr. Stephen Pagano, the nurses and aides who cared for Stephen at Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare; and Scott and the caring staff at Mt. Carmel Medical and Rehab Center in Burlington. A very special thank you to Dr. Jennifer Klenske and all the staff at Aurora Memorial Hospital of Burlington, for the loving and compassionate care they gave Stephen and our family.