Chester A. Zaryczny

Chester A. Zaryczny, 91, of Crystal Lake, was born August 27, 1930 in Chicago, IL to the late John and Catherine (nee Libera) Zaryczny. He passed away unexpectedly on January 1, 2022.

Chester was the beloved husband of the late Patricia (nee Gillis); loving father of Arlene (the late Herman) Hudson, Cindy (Doug) Wheat, and Linda (the late Timothy Nunes) Gushulak; cherished grandpa of Eric (Hallie) Hudson, Austin and Alyssa Wheat, and Ashley (Scott) Brown, and Matthew and Alex Gushulak; proud great-grandpa of Hayden, Ethan, Caleb, and Nathan; dear brother of Alice Dub and brother-in-law of Joseph and Jackie Gillis; and loving uncle to many nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his siblings, Florence, Irene, Harry, and Leonard.

Chester was a proud U.S. Navy veteran who served in the Korean War on the USS Helena. He was passionate about boxing and became a CYO and Golden Gloves Champion in the 1950s. In 1957, he became a Chicago Police Officer and retired 32 years later. During those years, he also worked as a part-time security guard. In his retirement, he and his wife, Pat, enjoyed time together in the country planting, gardening, and relaxing. In more recent years, when Pat became sick with cancer, he devotedly took care of her until her death in 2019. He enjoyed music and playing the harmonica, jokes, and computering. He was a gentle man of honesty and integrity who was loved and cherished by his family, friends from the old neighborhood, neighbors in Crystal Lake, and many pets (dogs and squirrels) through the years.

Services and interment will be held privately by his family. A Celebration of Life with military honors will be held later in the spring.