SZALKOWSKI, Paul Michael 1946-2008

SZALKOWSKI, BODDE, WHALEN

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 1/1/2009 at 16:50:47

NASHUA, IOWA - Paul M. Szalkowski, age 62, of Nashua, Chickasaw county, Iowa, died on Wednesday, December 17, 2008, at the Floyd County Medical Center in Charles City, Iowa.

Memorial services were held on Saturday, December 20, 2008, at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Nashua with Rev Carl Ries officiating. Bob Phillips was the organist with Mike Carlin serving as cantor. Inurnment will be in Oak Hill Cemetery at a later date.

The family greeted friends and relatives on Friday at the Hugeback & Chenoweth Funeral Home in Nashua, where there was a scripture service at 7 p.m.

Paul Michael Szalkowski was born on September 4, 1946, in Chicago, Illinois, the son of Sigmund and Margaret (Whalen) Szalkowski. He attended school in Downer’s Grove, Illinois, and graduated from Downer’s Grove High School in 1964. Paul graduated from Upper Iowa University in 1969 with a B.A. in Education. He later attained his Master’s Degree from Northeast Missouri State.

Paul married Sandra Bodde on November 28, 1968, at the United Methodist Church in Hampton. He served two years in the U.S. Army. He was a staff sergeant with the combat engineers in Viet Nam.

He started his teaching career at the Nashua Elementary School on December 13, 1971, and retired from Nashua-Plainfield Elementary School in 2002. It was truly a labor of love for Paul for even after retiring he substitute taught so he could stay close to his profession and the kids.

Paul was an active member of St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Nashua, St Michael’s Parrish Council, ISEA, NEA, American Legion, VFW and the Mercy Hospital Board. He was a faithful Bulldog and Husky supporter and will be remember for his many years of announcing the home football games. He remained an avid Cubs, White Sox and Bears fan, not completely giving up his Illinois’ roots.

He is survived by his wife, Sandra; two sons, Jeff (Tammy) of Peosta and Shawn (Karen) of Ft. Madison; his twin granddaughters, Samantha and Cassandra; two brothers, Bill (Diana) Szalkowski of O’Fallon, Illinois, and Glenn (Reg) Szalkowski of Antioch, Illinois; two sisters, Marianne (Terry) Perkins of Seattle, Washington, and Adair Sapinski of San Francisco, California; his mother-in-law, Esther Bodde of Nashua. Paul was preceded in death by his parents and father-in-law.

On-line condolences may be left for Paul at www.hugebackfuneralhome.com.