Boleslaw Wojtal

NAME Boleslaw "Bill" Wojtal, age 92, of Elburn, passed away at Delnor Community Hospital in Geneva, IL, on Friday, February 13, 2009.BORN: He was born October 27, 1916 in Szczecin, Poland. Bill grew up in Szczecin and attended local schools.MILITARY:He joined the Deblin Air Force Academy 1938 and he was trained as a fighter pilot and began his career as a lieutenant. On the second day of the war he shot down two enemy aircraft before a third clipped his wing. After jumping out, Bill parachuted to the ground safely before being captured by German forces and put in a concentration camp. For the rest of the war he worked for the German government on local farms until the end of the war. He then joined the English Army until he migrated to the United States in 1949. MARRIAGE Once on American soil, Bill worked in the grain elevators on the south side of Chicago in Riverdale and lived with his sponsor family. Later in January of 1950, he met the love of his life, Dorothy Borek and following a whirlwind ten month courtship they were married in October. RESIDENTIAL HISTORY: They began their new life together in Chicago while Bill worked for two paint companies, Benjamin Moore and DeSoto Chemical, for a combined twenty years before eventually retiring from the Chicago Board of Education where he worked in the kitchen as a baker in 1987. In 1991 Dorothy and Bill moved to Elburn behind Lions Park and have since made eighteen years of memories. MEMBERSHIPS Bill was a faithful member of St. Gall Catholic Church as well as the Polish National Alliance. LIFE NOTES In 1995 Bill had the honor of welcoming another generation into the family upon the arrival of his only grandson, Peter, which only highlighted the love he had for family. He was best known for his roses and vegetable garden as well as his many fruit trees. He also grafted a few fruit trees producing delicious hybrids for friends and family alike. When he couldn’t be in his garden, Bill busied himself in his workshop honing his talent at making wine which has been enjoyed by many over the years. From his window, Bill passed the time watching through the window the local rabbits, squirrels and birds foraging for the "treats" he had left for them. SURVIVORS He now leaves his loving wife Dorothy of Elburn, One son Eugene (Denise) Wojtal and their son Peter, all of Burlington, IL;Seven nieces and nephews:Paul (Mary) Borek, Pam (Mike) McDonald,Jim Borek, Connie (Bill) Piotrowski,Barbara (Ken) Little and Susan (Jay) Bledsoe and Mary Pilat;A very special family friend, Sharon (Ted) Gressick and a family of friends. PRECEDED He now joins his parents, two sisters and three brothers who preceded him in death. VISITATION / FUNERAL Friends may call from 4-7:30 p.m. on Monday, February 16th, 2009 at Conley Funeral Home, 116 W. Pierce St., Elburn, IL. A wake service will follow visitation at 8 p.m. A mass to celebrate his life will be held at St. Gall Catholic Church, Elburn on Tuesday, February 17th, at 10:30 a.m. Fr. Karl Ganss, pastor of the church, will officiate and interment will follow at St. Gall Cemetery, Elburn. MEMORIAL A memorial has been established in his name. Checks may be made to the " Bill Wojtal Memorial" and mailed in care of P.O. Box 66, Elburn, IL 60119. Tributes and memories may also be forwarded to the family at the same address or through www.conleycare.com.

Friends may call on Monday Feb 16, 2009 from 4-7:45 with a wake service at 8:00, at Conley Funeral Home 116 W. Pierce St., Elburn. A mass to celebrate his life will be held on Tues Feb. 17 at 10:30 at St. Gall Catholic Church in Elburn, Father Karl Ganss will officiate. Interment will follow at St. Gall Cemetery, Elburn, Il.

Interment will follow at St. Gall Cemetery, Elburn, Il.