Casimer Szalkowski

Casimer Szalkowski Sr., 91, of Fort Gratiot formerly of Detroit and Port Austin, died Saturday, May 17, 2014.

He was born February 16, 1923 in Detroit to the late Anthony and Amelia Szalkowski. He married Alfreda Michalowicz on April 17, 1948 in Detroit.

Mr. Szalkowski served in the US Army during World War II as a demolition expert attached to the Army Rangers and also took part in the D-Day invasion of Normandy. He received four battle stars for his service; North Africa, Northern France, Normandy and Rhineland and was wounded in the Battle of the Bulge.

Following the war, he served as a police officer for the Detroit Police Department for 25 years, retiring on January 6, 1973. He was an expert marksman for the department and was a firearms instructor for both the Detroit Police Academy and the National Rifle Association.

Mr. Szalkowski will be remembered as an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed fishing, hunting and especially spending time with his family.

He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Alfreda; son, Casimer Szalkowski Jr.; daughter, Sharon (Stuart) Kline; grandchildren, Catherine (Thomas) Lauria, Matthew Szalkowski and Sara Kline; and great grandchildren, Rayne Caterina and Jenna Lauria. He was preceded in death by his sisters, Helen, Marie and Sophie; and brother, Thaddeus.

Memorial services will be held at a later date. Inurnment will take place in Great Lakes National Cemetery, Holly.

Memorials may be made to The Province of St. Joseph of the Capuchin Order, 1820 Mt. Elliott Street, Detroit, MI 48207, ATTN: Development Office.