Stanley "Stack" Kedziorski

I first met Stack and Nora nearly 40 years ago when we were neighbors in Arlington Heights. First impression of Stack: gruff and just a little bit scary...he was so big and that voice! It didn't take long, though, to realize what a gentle giant he was. In the following years, Stack did A LOT of carpentry work for me on three houses. Growing up with a father who renovated and built houses, I knew my fair share about the trade and craftsmanship and recognized Stack's high skillset. More importantly, I also came to appreciate Stack's honesty and integrity. He would lose a job bid before inflating the cost or cutting corners. Then, too, there was Stack's generous and kind nature. In my semi-stupor days after my husband died, Stack and Nora took my four rather young kids camping...for a week! more than once! On his vacation time, he took extra kids along. He also helped me more an entire household out of state, again, more than once. For some reason, on one move he got to drive the truck with our dog Gus riding shotgun...a fond memory Stack recalled for many years after (still sorry about that, Stack). He let my daughter rent a room (cheaply, I had to make him take something) in his house during her student teaching semester. So many other examples of his generosity and kindness, too many to mention. He did all these things knowing I could never repay him. And finally, that wicked sense of humor. One example: While camping, he told my 6-year-old daughter Jackie that if she stared at the campfire too long, she would get diarrhea. She believed him and never saw a campfire again without remembering the warning and thinking of Stack. He could always make you laugh. I could go on and on. An honest, true, generous and funny man who we had the great good fortune to know and call a friend. RIP Stack and thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Lori and Kids

How do you explain someone like Stack? If you were lucky enough to know him, he left a lasting impression on your life. At first glance, he could seem intimidating, but once you got to know him, you realized he was someone you wanted in your life forever. His family and his work were his world. He was one of the most honest people I have ever known, and he lived that way every day. We lived across the street from him, and through friendships with his children, my siblings and I spent so much time at their home that we eventually became part of the family. It was something truly special. After I lost my dad, Stack became a second father to me. He taught me so much and helped me become the person I am today. During college, I even lived with his family for a time. He was always teaching, guiding, and helping me and others without ever expecting anything in return. He simply wanted people to become the very best versions of themselves. Stack and his family will always be my second family, and I can never fully repay everything they have done for me. I will forever be grateful for their love, kindness, and generosity. If you have someone like Stack in your life, consider yourself incredibly fortunate. Thank you, Stack. I love you. You will be deeply missed, and I will never forget all that you have done for me and my family.

How do you explain someone like Stack? If you were lucky enough to know him, he left a lasting impression on your life. At first glance, he could seem intimidating, but once you got to know him he was someone in your life forever. His family and his work were his world. He was one of the most honest people I have ever known, and he lived that every day. We lived across the street from him, and through friendships with his children, my siblings and I spent so much time at their home that we eventually became part of the family. It was so cool to just be welcomed in and truly special. After I lost my dad, Stack became a second father to me. He taught me so much and helped make me the person I am today. During college, I even lived with his family for a time. He was always teaching, guiding, and helping me and others without ever expecting anything in return. He simply wanted people to become the very best they could be. Stack and his family will always be my second family, and I can never repay everything they have done for me. I will forever be grateful for their love, kindness, and generosity. If you have someone like Stack in your life, consider yourself incredibly lucky. Thank you, Stack. I love you. You will be deeply missed, and I will never forget all that you have done for me and my family.

I met Stack the first day as sophomores at Weber High School in 1968. He had a crew-cut and resembled a real oddball I had earlier known. Stack was taken aback by how much hair I had on my arms and thought me akin to apes. This was the start of our 58-year friendship. But we found a common bond in our life outlook of being real persons. We shared our thoughts, hard work, loyalty, respect, and humor (especially guttural laughing). We were most inseparable for the next decade plus, until getting married and raising our own families. One junior class we had, Moral Guidance, remains vivid. For years, Stack and I guffawed over our raunchy recollections. Others believe we just grossly exaggerate what transpired. For Latin we helped a guy who hadn’t performed his passage translation for that class. He paid us a quarter for each question that we asked the instructor to stall for a day. I made $2.25, but Stack only $1.50. Stack complained that it was unfair for me to make more money, as his questions chewed up more class time. Stack converted me into an avid fisherman. I still recall the first time I went fishing with him, riding several busses to get to Schiller Pond where we caught small sunfish. But it was a thrill. We later developed a ritual of going to Indianford (WI) dam on the Rock River on March 1 of every year. Others would some times join us. It became a macho exercise. Who would be the first to crack in the freezing weather and suggest we leave for breakfast? We later took fishing vacations in the North Woods of WI, KY, TM, MO, and AR. Very fulfilling experiences. Things could get funky, though. At Land Between the Lakes, a crazy twerp, high on something, opened up the camper top of his pick-up to us and then jabbered, “I’ll pluck out your mother***ing eyeballs if you put your hand in there”. Some nearby others told us that he was harmless, but who knows. Maybe the goof had a hidden gun? We warily left. After all, it wasn’t those other guys’ eyeballs that would get plucked out. A big regret I have is not scheduling a fishing trip with Stack to Canada or Alaska. It was a bucket-list item that Stack never notched. We worked several jobs together that Stack helped me obtain. All of them have numerous memories of very eclectic people. In junior year, Stack and I worked with his dad (“Little Stack”) on Saturdays at Sears’ cafeteria. In senior year, we toiled at a vending machine company after school, filling dollar bill changers with coins. It paid well at $2.65 an hour. While In grad school, Stack had me hired at the real estate firm he worked at to paint apartments. A most memorable time of our friendship was May of 1974, when we stayed at Isle Royale. The first boat out of Houghton, MI to the island that Spring was mostly empty. Lake Superior was rough with six- foot seas. Stack was fine but I got seasick. Temperatures at night were 15 degrees. For one dinner, our main entrée was Wisconsin Wieners. They were god-awful - no amount of mustard could overcome the taste. As an experiment to see if even an animal would eat them, we placed two wieners hanging over a picnic table and used a bowed stick to keep them in place. The trap was set! But there were no takers that night or the next three days! We hiked the main ridge trail that had a gorgeous view from a high point to the Canadian coast. We fished Lake Superior and watched the moose who wandered the campground. Alas, we had no bites. Luckily Lake Superior was like glass on our return to Haughton with nary a ripple in the water. It was a special time. Solitude in the North Woods on an island on Lake Superior with a best buddy stuck in both our memories. Stack and I frequently relived the moments. As a normal course of life, our worlds, interests, and careers started to diverge. We found our respective brides at roughly the same time. I still remember Stack’s first date with Nora, roller skating at the Hub. He wasn’t sure if Nora had an interest in a courtship. I recall saying, “If a hottie is happy to go roller skating instead of demanding an expensive dinner, you’d better go for it.” And so he did. We were married about a year apart, each standing up to the other’s wedding. We would still get together with our children who later came in our families. Unfortunately, I had to move out of state in 1995. We maintained some contact after that, but more so reconnected when we moved to Iowa. Once again, Stack (and Nora) showed their measure in helping us to clean up after a hoarder relative of mine who lived in Bensenville. I miss my friend.

This is Adam planting the maple among the pines on his and Jackie's homestead in Minnesota. There is another side to Adam's memories. Stack was so appreciative for his connection with Adam, a true bond that remains. When Adam and Jackie were moving to thir new home in MN they stopped in. Stack sent them both off with treasures. Adam left with some of Stack's tools, Jackie was given a tool that belonged to her dad Steve. Her mom had given it to Stack after Steve passed away, more than 20 years ago; Stack made sure it returned to his family when the time was right. I wish I had taken a picture that day....