Wally Presmyk

Our father, Wally Presmyk, has gone to be with our mother, Gerrie, who preceded him in death over 32 years ago. Even though they were separated for so long, his love for her never diminished. We know she watched over him for those 32 years, and now they will be together forever. Walter Joseph Presmyk was born in Chicago, Illinois on December 26, 1920 to Charles and Nellie Przesmycki, and died in Prescott on December 7, 2013. He was also preceded in death by his grandson, Sgt. Kenny Schall, his life-long friends, Nathan and Polly Painter, and his older brother and two older sisters. The legacy he left on this earth includes his ten children and their loving spouses, Les and Paula Presmyk, Debbie and Bob Jones, Shelly and Kent Bunger, Kevin and Dottie Presmyk, Chris and Vikki Presmyk, Terri and John Schall, Alison Quinn, Lisa and Henry Frias, Lori and David Towles, and Brian and Marsha Presmyk; his 27 grandchildren and 24 great grandchildren, along with his ex-wife and friend Betty Theisen. He was a proud WWII veteran, serving his country in the U.S. Army from 1939 through 1945 in Panama, the Philippines and Okinawa. Like a lot of servicemen, he made Phoenix his home after returning from war. This was where he met Gerrie and bought three acres to start his general contracting business and raise their family. He built custom homes and small office buildings throughout the valley, but his real forte was remodeling. He imbued his sons with a love for construction and working with their hand and his daughters with an appreciation for how long it took to move a pile of bricks or a bundle of lumber. He was a mentor, a teacher, an inventor, the guy in charge, a midwife for the home births of his seven youngest children, and JaJa to his grandchildren. Although he was small in stature, he would fill a room with his presence. He served as president of the Lion’s Club, and in the 1950s when the governor wanted to commemorate fatal crash sites along our highways, he built 1000 crosses. He helped spearhead the law establishing 15mph school crossing zones. He learned to be a magician so he could entertain children at Gomper’s Rehabilitation Center. His final achievements included having his family do all of the site work at Wesley Bolin Plaza for the Enduring Freedom Memorial and building the Triumph of Courage memorial to Arizona’s war dead from Afghanistan and Iraq at the VA Medical Center in Prescott. Let us tell you something, Dad…we love you and we will miss you, but we know your are with our mother, and that makes us all very happy for you both. Someday we will be together again and you can regale us with your stories of how you got St. Peter’s construction crew all straightened out. A Celebration of his life will take place at 9:30am on December 20, 2013 at the Northern Arizona VA Medical Center Chapel (Building 152). A reception will follow in the Theatre, Building 15. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Honor Flight Arizona (sending Arizona’s WWII vets to their WWII Memorial in Washington, DC) at P.O. Box 12258, Prescott, AZ 86304, or honorflightaz.org/donation-form/. Flowers and final arrangements were entrusted to Hampton Funeral Home., 240 S. Cortez St., Prescott, AZ 86303.

Wally Presmyk

December 26, 1920 - December 7, 2013