Waclaw Bakunowicz

Waclaw Wally Bakunowicz, 81 of Rockford died after a short illness on Thursday, March 22, 2012 at Swedish American Hospital He was born onnbsp;June 15, 1930 in Pinsk, Poland, the son of Jan and Krystyna Bakunowicz. Wally immigrated to the United States from Germany in 1949 and was drafted a few years later into the US Army where he was in the motor pool.

He married his loving wife, Geraldine Pearson on May 30, 1953 at Camp Roberts, CA.

Wally worked for over 41 years in the maintenance department at Amerock retiring at the age of 65. He was a member of St. Rita Catholic Church, an amateur photographer, enjoyed going to the casino and loved watching tennis. nbsp;His first and foremost love was spending time with his grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Survivors include his beloved wife, Geraldine of Rockford; daughter, Mary (Terry) Balagna of Forsyth; sons, James (Regina) of Longview, WA., John (Lisa) of McFarland, WI and Jeffrey (Beth) of Wisconsin Rapids, WI; grandchildren, Carolyn, Rachel, Jonathan, Alexander, Angela, Teresa, Brittany, Haley, Ashlee, Emily, Andrea, Nicholas, Barry, Katie, Noah and Jonah; 7 great grandchildren and one on the way and sister, Maria Kanopka of Rockford. Preceded in death by his parents; nbsp;brother, nbsp;Walter Bakunowicz and great grandson, Luke Shields.


Funeral Mass Monday, March 26, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Rita Catholic Church, 6254 Valley Knoll Dr. Visitation Monday at church from 9 a.m. until time of prayer at 9:45 a.m. Interment will be held in Arlington Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers memorials nbsp;to the family for a fund to be established at a later date.