Chester B. Peckus (1930-2013)

Chester Peckus

Chester B. Peckus, age 82, a resident of Kenosha, died Sunday, March 31th,  2013 at United Hospital Systems St. Catherine’s Campus.

Chester was born on October 8, 1930 to the late Casimir and Marianne (Graczan) Piechowski in Chicago, IL. On July 9, 1955 he married Alice Greenwood at St. Johns Church in Bellaire, OH.  Chester enlisted into the Army and was stationed in Germany during the Korean War in the early ’50’s.  He was employed at AMC for over 20 years and was a member of  UAW Local 72.  He was a member of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic Church, a former member of St. Thomas Catholic Church and a member of the Knights of Columbus.  He was a volunteer for Meals on Wheels.

Grandpa “achoo-choo” loved to play cards, poker in particular and checkers.  He was given the name “Cheatin’ Chet” by his beloved grandchildren.  He loved traveling the state with Alice in search of Casinos.  It was a fun sport, keeping him “off the streets.”  He always kept his promise to Alice to get her to her Greenwood Family Reunions in Bellaire, Ohio annually.  Chet loved country music and enjoyed watching music shows on TV with Alice in the evenings.  Fond memories of dad and mom sitting in front of the TV, watching the Lawerence Welk Show will forever make us smile.

Chester is survived by his wife Alice, one son, Rolly (Margaret) Peckus of Racine and five daughters:  Mary Beth (Patrick) Ingrouille of Eau Claire, WI, June (Robert) LaFortune of Kenosha, Gayle (Timothy) Kemen of Kenosha, Lisa (Lee) McClain-Bomar, of Rockwell, TX and Anita (David) Piccolo of Kenosha. He is also survived by fifteen grandchildren:  Michelle (Jason) Eddy, Jacqueline (Eric) Blomstrom, Kristina Ingrouille, Laura Ingrouille, Jacob LaFortune, Shawna LaFortune, Alyssa LaFortune, Brad Kemen, Mark (Sarah Files) Kemen, Michelle McClain, Mitchell McClain, Heather (Jordan) Christensen, Cara Piccolo, Alyssa Piccolo, Nick Piccolo.  Chester is further survived by five great-grandchildren:   Ava, Ali-Rae, Colin, Payton and Alyssa and one sister Eleanor Tyse of Prospect Heights, IL and many loving nieces and nephews around the country.

Chester was preceded in death by his parents, grandson, Michael McClain, two brothers, Arthur and Harry and two sisters Dorothy and Evelyn.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, April 5th,  2013 at 12:00 noon at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church (1919-54th Street).  A visitation with the family will be held on Friday at the church from 10:00am until the time of mass.  Burial will take place at a later date.

A complete obituary will appear in the Wednesday edition of the Kenosha News.

Thoughts for Chester B. Peckus (1930-2013);

  • Cindy Zelasko Stauffer says:

    Dear Aunt Alice and Wisconsin cousins,

    I was saddened to hear of Uncle Chester’s passing. Pat and I send our heartfelt condolences. I will always remember him being a fun guy.

    Love, Cindy and Pat Stauffer

  • Laurie Collins says:

    Dear Gayle and family,

    I am so sorry for your loss. I have many fond memories of your Father from my bartending days. Him walking in the front door with that huge smile of his on his face, always saying something positive and nice. He often spoke of his family as he was a very proud Father. I always looked forward to seeing him and I feel truly blessed to have known him.

  • Dana Fiorilli says:

    Dear Aunt Alice and family,

    I am so sad for your loss. I have such fond childhood memories of your summer visits to West Virginia/Ohio, going to Grandma’s and family reunions. Uncle Chester will be missed and the card games will just never be the same.

    Our love and prayers are with you always. Dana, Pat, Nick and Natalie

  • Chester and I worked together at the former American Motors Corp. factory in Kenosha. I was 18 at the time, and Chester’s jokes and songs were about the only bright spots in that grim place.

  • Irene Buswell Niccolai says:

    my prayers and thoughts to Mary Beth and June and the entire Peckus family. May the wonderful memories of your dad help you through this difficult time.

    Irene Buswell Niccolai

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