Kazmer Rachack

In Memory of my Dad

On September 8, 2011 my dad, Kazmer Rachak, passed away in his home. He was 91 years old. He was so proud that he was still in good health and was able to continue to live on his own in his home. I was happy and grateful for that too. He was still able to drive (and was great at parallel parking) and I never had to worry about taking his car keys away from him.

He came from immigrant parents who worked hard to raise and keep their children together during hard times and the depression. He deeply loved all of his siblings but was closest to his brother, Andy.
He joined the service and was preparing to become a pilot but later was not able to complete that because they found out that he was color blind. He did continue to fly during the war but was a gunner instead. His plane went down and he another guy bailed out and landed on the island of Borkum. He was captured and became a POW who later during the war was able to escape. My dad was so proud to have his story published in the paper. One of his proudest possessions was the handkerchief that he embroidered with the yarn from his socks while he was a POW.

After the war he was so tired of being broke that he earnestly pursued making a career using his woodworking skills. He always said that he knew what he was going to do at an early age. He had completed a 4 year apprenticeship in 2 years. He had a variety of jobs while becoming a journey man woodworker. Cabinet making and then later becoming a pattern maker. He owned his own business for years and did a lot of work for Gates Rubber Co. A lot of his work required him working with tolerances to the thousands of an inch. He liked working for himself and was successful and retired comfortably. He was always telling people that before you retire do it debt free and be frugal with your money and then you can do what you want later in life.