Obituary of Daniel D. Kaczmarek

Daniel D. "Danny" Kaczmarek, age 77 of Mount Pleasant, PA, died unexpectedly Friday, August 4, 2017, at his home.

Mr. Kaczmarek was born December 31, 1939 in Mount Pleasant, PA, the son of the late Michael and Catherine Dreliszak Kaczmarek. He was a 1957 graduate of the former Ramsay High School in Mt. Pleasant. He then went on to have a long history serving in the U.S. Military. Danny served as a parachute rigger in the U.S. Navy (1957-1960), the Navy Reserves and the Virginia Air National Guard (1970-1984), and the South Carolina Air National Guard (1984-1989).

He then joined the Washington, DC Metropolitan Police Department where he served from 1961-1964, including service at President Kennedy's funeral in 1963. Through his friends on the police force, he met Catherine Weeks and they married in Washington, D.C. in 1964. They spent 18 years in Lynchburg, VA while they raised their kids and Danny worked as a mail carrier for the US Postal Service. In 1983, he transferred to the Post Office in Myrtle Beach, SC where he retired from, spending many years enjoying beach life and his family.

Danny liked to keep things simple. Right now he would shake his head and laugh at us making such a fuss to celebrate his life. Driving his truck, watching an old TV show, or seeing his friends were the daily activities which made him happy. He had a silly, dry sense of humor, and loved a good joke or card trick. Danny was a loving and gentle man, soft-spoken, but with a good hearty laugh. He enjoyed sports and was always quick to give credit where credit was due, even if it was to the team that beat his favorite one. He loved his kids tremendously and doted over his grandchildren. He was one of the slowest eaters we ever met, and he liked telling stories about things he did in the past, often concluding with "…and we had a ball", which is something we'll never forget about him. Danny/Dan/Kazbo (he had many nicknames, and probably some we don't even know) will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.

Danny is survived by his two children, David Kaczmarek and his wife Wendy of Columbia, SC and Dani Lueker and her husband Curtis of Westport, CT, his former wife, Catherine Weeks Kelley, and by his three grandchildren, Cabry, Ellary and Kieran Lueker. He is also survived by his sister, Marcy Bilik of Norvelt, PA, and by his brothers, Michael (Jerome) Kaczmarek of Scottdale and Eugene Kaczmarek of Mt. Pleasant, PA.

The family would like to thank Dr. Robert Sanders in Irwin, Nurse Ricky with the Thorne Group, Laura Hollins with AIS Healthcare, and Karen Koberg with Excela Health in Greensburg for their unwavering support and dedication to Danny's care.

Family and friends are invited to attend a memorial service for Danny on Tuesday, August 8, 2017 at 11:00 AM at the Galone-Caruso Funeral Home, 204 Eagle Street, Mount Pleasant, with the Rev. Richard J. Kosisko officiating. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions may be made to a charity of one's choice, in Memory of Danny Kaczmarek. To offer an online condolence, please visit our web site at: www.galone-carusofuneralhome.com