Edward L. "Ed" Kaczmarek,

KACZMAREK, Edward L. "Ed" Sr. 1/15/1920 - 8/1/2019 Edward (Ed) Lee Kaczmarek, Sr., was born in Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania on January 15, 1920.Ed was the ninth of ten children born to Lawrence and Joanna Kaczmarek.His brothers were Casimir, Joseph, Mitchell, Frank and Leo; his sisters, Lillian, Frances, Helen, and Martha. Ed graduated from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln with a Bachelors Degree in Chemical Engineering.He went on to work for Phillips Petroleum in Phillips, Texas, where he met the love of his life, Paulina Foster, who also worked for Phillips.They married in 1950 and moved to Lake Weatherby, Missouri, where their first child, Larry, was born.Eventually Ed and Paulina relocated to Omaha, Nebraska.Their remaining five children, Teri, Leann, Carol, Mary Kay, and Ed, Jr. were born there. Ed was preceded in death by Paulina, and an infant granddaughter.He is survived by his children: Lawrence (Debbie) Kaczmarek, Teresa (Michael) McCartney, Leann (Scott) Yahnke, Carol (Robert) Manning, Mary Kay (J. Tyler) Martin, and Edward (Lisa) Kaczmarek, Jr., grandchildren: Lia, Amber, Elizebeth, Lauren, Morgan, Tom, Eric, Sean, Alex, Samuel, Joseph, Jesse, J. Tyler Jr., Jordan, Jenae, Olivia, and Josiah, and great grandchildren: Emory, Charles, Amelia, Oliver, Graham, Macy, Beck, Dawson, Haven, Haley, Ella, Lyla, Emery, Camilla, Carmen, Frederick, Fritz, Raiford, Rex, and Scout. Ed fulfilled his role as husband and father with wit and perseverance.He was an unusual (for the times) example of a hands-on father who actively participated in household tasks such as cooking and caring for his kids.Being a Depression-era child of Polish immigrants, his frugality and creativity in re-using and re-purposing items were legendary! Ed was well-read and had a great deal of knowledge about a variety of topics.He amazed his family and others with his ability to maintain conversations with anybody about anything.He was a long-time member of St. Bernard’s parish in Omaha.Ed’s favorite pastimes included bowling, golfing, Keno, fishing, watching football, holding garage sales, “puttering” around his yard, and, of course, swinging on his porch swing smoking his pipe. The family would like to express their appreciation to all the staff at House of Hope Memory Care and Serene Care Hospice for their kindness while caring for Ed. A Funeral Mass, with a luncheon to follow, will be held at St. Bernard Catholic Church (3601 N. 65th Street), in Omaha, on August 24t, 2019 at 1:00 pm.Private inurnment at Calvary Cemetery will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers memorials to be directed to: St. Bernard Catholic School 3604 N 65th Street Omaha NE 68104