Donald "Buzz" Byczynski

Donald J. "Buzz" Byczynski, 78, of Ottawa, Illinois, passed away June 19, 2013 surrounded by his family. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:00 a.m. Saturday, June 22, 2013 at St. Francis of Assisi Church, with Rev. Mike Adrie officiating. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery, with Military Services. Visitation will be from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Friday, June 21, 2013 at Ottawa Funeral Home with prayers at 4:00 p.m. with the Knights of Columbus. Buzz was born Sunday, March 31, 1935, in Granville, Illinois, to Carl and Irma (Tondi) Byczynski. He married Gloria Savitch on November 19, 1960, at St. Anne's Catholic Church in Spring Valley. He served in the US Army after graduating from LaSalle Peru High School in 1953 and attending LPO Junior College. He worked for the Army Corp of Engineers for 36 years and was lockmaster at Starved Rock Lock & Dam for 19 years until his retirement from the Corps in 1992. While at the Corps he was elected the only honorary member of the Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory. He also farmed part time during these years. Buzz was a member of the Knights of Columbus, having served as Grand Knight, the Ottawa Elks, the Ottawa Moose Lodge, the Ottawa Youth for Sports, and the Engineers Rod & Gun Club. He was also a member and President of the Ottawa Board of Recreation. Buzz enjoyed fishing, golfing, mushroom hunting, poker, and traveling the world with his wife and friends after retirement. He was an avid sports fan and shared his colorful personality at many of his grandchildren's events. He never met a stranger he didn't befriend. He will be dearly missed by his family and friends. Buzz is survived by his wife, Gloria; one daughter, Beth (Rick) Schmitt of Sandwich; two sons, Brad (Lisa) Byczynski of Plainfield and Bill (Kathy) Byczynski of Marseilles; six grandchildren, Paul and Tim Schmitt, Colin, Anna, Ben and Alayna Byczynski; a great granddaughter, Grace; one sister, Charlotte Klein of LaSalle; and one brother, Robert Byczynski of Utica. He was preceded in death by his parents; and one sister, Rose Byczynski. Pallbearers will be Paul and Tim Schmitt, Colin and Ben Byczynski, Herb Klein, Bill Krause, and Dennis Peruba. Memorials may be directed to St. Francis Catholic Church or the Ottawa High School Booster Club.