Obituary of Stanley J. Beczkowski

Stanley J. "Whitey" Beczkowski, age 91 of Wilson died Sunday May 13, 2012 in Eastern Niagara Hospital Newfane. Whitey was born March 31, 1921 in Niagara Falls, NY, the son of the late Joseph and Nellie (Bak) Beczkowski. He grew up in tough times, a child of the Great Depression. As a teenager, in the 1930s, he went west to serve with other young men in the Civilian Conservation Corps. He helped build a number of public works projects in Idaho and worked on the construction of a retaining wall at Hamlin Beach on the Lake Ontario shoreline. Whitey was a U.S. Marine in World War II, often engaged in the desperate fighting that took place during the island-hopping campaign in places like Iwo Jima and Okinawa. He married Genevieve (Banas) Beczkowski on June 12, 1948 and they had resided in Wilson since 1952. Whitey worked as an Equipment Operator/Rigger at E.I. DuPont in Niagara Falls for over 30 years. He was a member of St. Brendan on the Lake RC Church in Wilson and of the O. Leo Curtiss American Legion Post #830 in Ransomville. Whitey was a habitual reader, a self-taught man. He read something every day; he learned something every day. And he had no problem whatsoever telling what he knew to just about anyone within earshot. He was a storyteller. Whitey also enjoyed painting, carpentry, mechanical work, fishing and hunting He is survived by his wife Genevieve; his daughters, Joyce Nicholas of Antwerp, NY, Laurie Beczkowski of Oxnard, CA, and Cathy (Gary) Burns of Youngstown; Six grandchildren, who all hold college degrees and work in a variety of professions; one great granddaughter, Riley Elizabeth Nicholas; two sisters, Mary Fegatilli of Niagara Falls, NY and Irene Bak of Grand Island. He was predeceased by a brother, Henry Beczkowski. A memorial mass will be held Sunday, July 8, at 1:00 pm in St. Brendan on the Lake RC Church, 359 Lake St., Wilson, NY followed by a gathering of family and friends. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Wilson Volunteer Fire Co. No. 1 Ambulance Fund, P.O. Box 609, 250 Young St., Wilson, NY 14172 or to the O. Leo Curtiss American Legion Post #830 Ransomville. Arrangements have been entrusted to HARDISON FUNERAL HOME, 3648 Ransomville Rd. Ransomville, NY