Roman J. Bonczek Jr.

Roman J. Bonczek Jr. 87 year old resident of Little Falls, MN passed away Tuesday, May 22, 2012 at his home in Little Falls, MN. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Saturday, May 26, 2012 at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Little Falls, MN with Father Mark Innocenti officiating. Burial will take place in the Holy Rosary Cemetery in Hadley, MA. on Wednesday (May 30). Friends may call from 5-7 P.M. on Friday and from 9-10:15 A.M. on Saturday at the Shelley Funeral Chapel in Little Falls, MN. Parish prayers will be held Friday at 5:30 PM at the Shelley Funeral Chapel. Military honors will be provided by the U.S. Government Honor Guard. Funeral arrangements are with the Shelley Funeral Chapel in Little Falls, MN. Roman J. Bonczek Jr. was born December 29, 1924 in Plattekill, NY, the son of the late Roman J. and Salomea (Duch) Bonczek. During WW II, he entered the US Army Air Corps and served in the Pacific Theater as a navigator on B-24 Liberator aircraft on which he flew more than 55 missions. Roman was honorably discharged and returned stateside. He was united in marriage to Oldina F. Narog in Hadley, MA in 1947. In 1951, he was recalled to active duty by the US Air Force and flew more than 45 missions during the Korean War. He was later stationed at Bitburg Air Base and Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany; RAF Alconbury in England; Harlingen AFB and James Connelly AFB in TX from 1958 to 1967. Roman then served a tour of duty in DaNang, Vietnam. He was then stationed at Robins AFB, GA; Elmendorf AFB, AK and Peterson AFB, CO. After more than 32 years of service to his beloved country, Roman retired on Aug. 1, 1979 as a Lieutenant Colonel. He then worked as the Regional Manager for Dunkin Donuts in Colorado Springs, CO while attending Regis University in Denver, CO where he graduated Magnum Cum Laude. He retired from Dunkin Donuts in 1986. Roman and Oldina then moved to Omaha, NE and then in 2000, came to reside in Little Falls, MN. His beloved wife of 53 years, passed away on Jan. 25, 2001. Roman was a member of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Little Falls. He also belonged to the Polish Echoes of Little Falls. He enjoyed his Polish heritage, traveling, music, history and genealogy. Roman J. Bonczek is survived by his children, Mary Renteria (David Foley) of Columbus, GA; Katherine (Michael) Marquardt of Kent, OH; Salomea (Larry) Greene of Little Falls, MN; Lt. Col. Roman J. (Susan) Bonczek of Lincoln, CA and Elizabeth (Peter) Stoffel of Denver, CO; seven grandchildren and two great grandchildren. Memorials preferred to Unity Family Hospice of Little Falls, MN.

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Roman J. Bonczek Jr.

December 29, 1924 - May 22, 2012