Vincent M. Jurkiewicz, 88, passed away peacefully at his home on Friday, April 8, 2011. Mr. Jurkiewicz was born in Racine on September 27, 1922, the son of the late Stanley and Paulina (nee: Skibicki) Jurkiewicz. The family moved to Poland in 1929 until returning to Racine in 1936.
In September of 1941, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and served with the 24th Infantry Division in the Pacific Theater where he was wounded. He completed his military service at Warner-Robbins, GA and Eglin Army Air Force Base in Florida. On May 8, 1949, in St. Edward Catholic Church, he was united in marriage to the former Helen Karowski, who preceded him in death on September 26, 2003. Vincent worked as an electrician for over 40 years, retiring in 1991 and was a member of the IBEW Local #430.
Mr. Jurkiewicz was a member of St. Lucy Catholic Church, a lifetime member of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association. He served as the Honorary Grand Marshall of the Fourth Fest Parade in 2009 as the last surviving Pearl Harbor Veteran in Racine County. He enjoyed bowling, sewing, breeding and racing Homing Pigeons, vegetable gardening, and fixing and restoring cars. In his younger years he hunted and fished.
Surviving are his children, Gregory Jurkiewicz, of Kenosha, Cynthia Jurkiewicz, of North Cape, and Annette Jurkiewicz, of Mt. Pleasant; grandsons, Joseph and Corey Jurkiewicz, both of Racine, granddaughters, Jennifer Jurkiewicz, of Burlington, WI, and Clairissa Jurkiewicz, of Racine, great granddaughter, Autumn Hammes, of Burlington; brother, Alexander Jurkiewicz, of Racine; sisters, Helen Scuderi, of Garden City, NY, and Barbara (Arthur) Rapkine, of Simi Valley, CA; daughter-in-law, Cathy (James) Campbell, all of Racine. In addition to his wife and parents, he was preceded in death by his son, Jerome Jurkiewicz in 1986, brothers, Chester Jurkiewicz, Michael James, and Stanley Jurkiewicz.
His Funeral Mass will be celebrated in St. Lucy Catholic Church, 3101 Drexel Ave. on Thursday, April 14th, at 7:00 p.m., with Rev. Sean Granger officiating. Visitation will be in the church on Thursday from 5:00 p.m. until the time of the Mass. Burial, with full military honors, will be at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, April 15th, in Holy Cross Cemetery Hwy 32. The family has suggested memorials in the form of Masses and rosaries be recited for Vincent or donations to any wounded veteran’s organizations.
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