Obituary of Henry J. Jakucewicz

Albany, NY Henry J. Jakucewicz, 97, died on Saturday, June 22, 2019. He was surrounded by family at St. Peter’s Hospital Hospice in Albany, New York after a brief illness. Henry (Jack) leaves his wife of 45 years, Anne Elizabeth (Betty) Wheeler Jakucewicz. He is survived by two children: Henry M.(Jack) Jakucewicz (Susan) and daughter, Joan Jakucewicz Tichy (Michael); four grandchildren: Dr. Eric (Rachel) Tichy, Bryan (Sarah) Tichy, and Alexandra (Nikolas) Zurita (children of Michael and Joan) and Joshua Jakucewicz (son of Henry and Susan Jakucewicz) and six great-grandchildren; Alexander, Analiese, and Isabella Tichy (children of Rachel and Eric); Hayden Tichy (son of Bryan and Sarah); as well as Vanessa and Calvin Zurita (children of Alexandra and Nikolas). He is also survived by nephews: Gerald Skwish, Joseph Skwish, Edward Jackowitz, and Roger Jackucewicz and a niece, Trudy Skwish Mariano and many friends. He was predeceased by his mother Lottie Burdyn Jakucewicz and father Alexander Jakucewicz as well as his beloved wife, the late Marcella Lang Jakucewicz; daughters Joann Jakucewicz and Theresa Jakucewicz; and a son Drew Jakucewicz. He was also predeceased by his brother, Edward; sisters; Anna Jakucewicz Skwish, Pearl Jakucewicz and Lottie Jakucewicz Karieva. Henry was born in Dickson City, Pennsylvania on June 2, 1922 to Alexander and Lottie Burdyn Jakucewicz. At seventeen years of age, he enlisted in the United States Army before the United States entered World War II. His life focused on service to our country. Highlights included bravery in the CBI Pacific Theater during World War II with the Army Air Corps, earning the Distinguished Unit Badge, WW II Victory Medal, Silver Star, Air Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, and the Distinguished Flying Cross while flying with the 462d Bombardment Group as one of the first B-29 Super Fortress units in 1943. He remained in the Air Force at war’s end. He was a graduate of many special training courses at the United States Air Force Air University Air Command and Staff College Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama and attended the University of Colorado. He retired from the Air force in 1960, after 20 years of service, as a Chief Warrant Officer. He worked for AVCO Lycoming as a Manager of Field Support Services. Henry continued to faithfully serve his community as the assistant to the mayor and as an elected city officer, Treasurer for the City of Shelton, Connecticut. Henry found great joy in anything to do with his Polish heritage and he always maintained great interest in the activities of his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. He was a devout Catholic and communicant at Our Lady of Assumption Catholic Church in Latham, NY. Latham, NY was his last residence where he maintained his independence until his passing into eternal glory on June 22, 2019.