Henry Kochanski
SOUTHWICK – Henry “Hank” Leonard George Kochanski, Jr., 80, of Southwick, formerly of Chicago, IL and Rapid River, Michigan, passed away on Sunday, February 05, 2017 at Westfield Gardens, with his loving wife Antonette (Bugay) Kochanski by his side. Born in Wilkes Barre, PA on February 28, 1936, he was the son of the late Henry L. Kochanski, Sr. and Mary (Miloszewska) Kochanski. Hank grew up in Chicago and served his country in the US Army Corps of Engineers. Hank and Toni were married on November 26, 1960 at Saint Boniface Church in Chicago and moved to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan where they raised their two children.
Hank worked at Clairmont Transfer of Escanaba, MI, repairing and restoring damaged salvaged goods; became a maintenance repairman at Dearborn Trucking of Chicago, IL, before retiring to Rapid River, MI in 1997. He and Toni relocated to Southwick in later years to be nearer to their children.
Hank had a craftsman’s hands and an artist’s eye, evident in the work he did repairing and refinishing furniture, remodeling rooms for his family and others, and completing “projects” that satisfied his natural curiosity while enriching the lives of those around him. He walked the earth with quiet dignity and kindness.
Besides his wife of 56 years, he is survived by his son, Paul Kochanski and his wife Tracy of Westfield; his daughter, Susan Kochanski and her husband Dennis Clark of Southwick; 3 grandchildren, Sara of Amherst, and Samuel and Zachary of Westfield; and 2 brothers, Bill Kochanski of Des Plaines, IL, and Carl Kochanski of Gladstone, MI. He was predeceased by 2 brothers, Richard and Ted Kochanski.
His family will receive friends on Friday, February 10, from 10-11 AM DIRECTLY AT Our Lady of the Lake Church, 224 Sheep Pasture Rd., Southwick, followed by a Liturgy of Christian Burial at 11 AM. Burial will be private. Southwick Forastiere Funeral Home has care of arrangements. www.forastiere.com.
