A look back at the faithful service of Joliet-area veterans
Monday is Veterans Day – a day to honor those who have served and protected the United States of America during both peace and war throughout the nation’s history.
As we think of veterans today, let’s remember four featured in previous An Extraordinary Life stories.
Joliet veteran also was a man-of-God mentor
Tom Grotovsky of Mokena, owner of Great American Bagel in Joliet, met World War II veteran Albert Gencur of Joliet in a chance meeting at Starbucks.
Albert became a real father-figure for Tom, as well as a spiritual mentor, a confidante. As Tom said in his eulogy, “We joked, we laughed, we cried, we prayed.”
“Albert told me each day that he prayed for me,” Tom said in his eulogy. “I spoke to him almost every day at 8:10 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. He was my blessing. I used to say ‘Albert, you are God’s messenger to me. God uses your voice to speak to me in words I need to hear.’ ”
Leonard Strahanoski Sr. was a man of solid accomplishments
Leonard was a U.S. Navy veteran, a life member of the Lockport Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5788, owner and operator of the former Ski and Sons Builders, a 2nd Ward alderman in Lockport from 1965 to 1973, and Lockport’s part-time building and plumbing inspector.
But Leonard valued – and lived – two ideals that directed all of his actions.
Hard work and responsibility.
“He was a man of character and very responsible, from a young age, and he was well-respected in all that he did,” said Leonard’s daughter, Beth Hohisel of Lockport.
The oldest boy of six siblings, Ski was only 14 when he began working to helps his family. First jobs included setting up pins in a bowling alley and switching trains seven days a week for a railroad.
Ski looked after his siblings, too, giving them rides and buying them gifts. At 17, he joined the U.S. Navy, served in World War II and traveled to Australia, Shanghai and the Philippines.
But Ski came home to Lockport.
Family man David Jameson never removed his World War II cap
David Jameson went around one side of the hedgerow and met a German soldier coming around the other side.
“Both had guns but neither one drew them,” said Steve Jameson of Mount Prospect, David’s son. “They both turned around and ran the other way.”
A proud World War II veteran, David Jameson never removed his World War II cap.
“I think he was just happy he served and was able to come home and raise his family,” Steve said.
Lois McCann, who knew David from Essington Place in Joliet, said David was a wonderful friend who mostly valued his family and his military service.
“He wore that veteran’s cap everywhere he went, no matter how cold it was,” Lois said, “He sat at the table with me going on nine years in May. He told me all about his service and how he had seven sons and that his wife died so many years ago. He was always talking about Margie, his wife.”
In an email, Steve detailed his father’s service. David joined the National Guard in 1941 at the age of 19.
After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, David, a newlywed, was inducted into the U.S. Army and was assigned to the 320th Infantry Regiment, 35th Division of Gen. George S. Patton’s Third Army.
Within that division, a small artillery company – the Cannon Company – was developed, for which David volunteered. He always maintained it was the best decision he ever made.
David earned a Bronze Star and five battle stars: Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes and Central Europe. Now David could embark upon his second service – raising seven sons.
A hardworking volunteer to the end
The tombstone of U.S. Army veteran Carl Bush reads “Family to the lucky. Friend to all.”
That sums up Carl’s life. Although Carl received a Purple Heart during the Korean War, and despite the painful frostbite he endured on his hands and feet, Carl spent his days working to benefit others, especially veterans and youth.
He belonged to numerous veterans organizations, Minooka American Legion Post 1188; VFW Post 6049 in Morris; VFW Post 3629 in Ketchikan, Alaska; and Marne American Legion Post 13 in Plainfield, where he served as past commander.
Carl respected and honored all veterans who would give their lives for those values, and he wanted to teach those values to children.
“He was able to live his life the way he wanted to – taking care of his wife and his children,” said Daniel Bush of Minooka, Carl’s son. “America gave him that opportunity and he never forgot it.”
• To feature someone in “An Extraordinary Life,” contact Denise M. Baran-Unland at 815-280-4122 or dunland@shawmedia.com.