Thomas Anthony Kawczynski, 88, of Roswell, N.M., passed away peacefully in his sleep on Dec. 15, 2016.
He was born Oct. 16, 1928, in Kraków to Joseph and Esther Kawczynski. He served in the U.S. Army from 1950 to 1952 and was a combat wounded veteran from the Korean War. He owned Tom’s Family Shoes in Delavan where he and his surviving wife, Camilla, raised four boys – Mark, who resides in Wisconsin and is married to Sharon and has one son, Taylor; Tom (Jr.) who resides in North Carolina; Bill, who resides in North Carolina and has three children, Ryan, Will and Nikki; and Jon, who resides in Colorado and is married to Kirsten.
In 1958, Tom married the love of his life, Camilla (Shields), and they lived in Milwaukee before relocating to Delavan in April 1962 where they purchased a home and established Tom’s Family Shoe Store. While in Delavan, Tom and Camilla raised their four sons, and Tom was an established businessman and supporter of many entities including the Chamber of Commerce, St. Andrew Parish, American Legion Post 95, Delavan’s Maxwell Street Day and bowling and baseball teams.
Tom bowled in the commercial league for 25 years and was an avid golfer at Delbrook Golf Course where he was a member of the men’s club.
Tom enjoyed his many daily interactions with Tom’s Family Shoes customers and lifelong friends, was passionate about developing and maintaining a thriving business climate in Delavan, played cribbage with neighbors, listened to big band music, traveled throughout the United States with his family and carried out conversations with any and all.
Tom and Camilla retired to New Mexico in 1991. Some of his hobbies included garage sales, refurbishing antique furniture and spending his golden years with Camilla visiting family and friends throughout the country.
Tom is preceded in death by two sisters, Geraldine and MaryAnn; one brother, Eugene; and his stepfather, Bill. In addition to his wife, children and grandchildren, he is and survived by one brother, Bryan.
Betzer Funeral Home will announce details of memorial mass at St. Andrew’s at a later date. In lieu of flowers, a mass or contribution on behalf of Tom Kawczynski can be made to St. Andrew Catholic Church in Delavan.
