Joseph
Joseph Chimelski
d. January 19, 2009
Hudson, MA
Joseph Chimelski, 90, of Hudson, passed peacefully away at Harborside Northwood assisted living facility in Bedford, NH on January 19, 2009 after a long battle with Alheimer's disease. Joseph was born in Palmer, MA on October 17, 1918, the son of the late Ignace and Beatrice (Prekarpus) Kimelaskas. He was raised in Worcester, MA.
MSgt USAF (Retired) Joseph Chimelski served a distinguished military career with a combined 23 years in the Army Air Corps, and US Air Force. He attained the rank of MSgt, the highest enlisted grade at the time, in a record 28 months from entering service. In addition to World War II, Korean War, and peacetime supervisory aircraft maintenance positions, he also served as aircraft chief and B-17 chin-gunner in both European and Pacific theaters. He earned numerous awards, medals, and decorations including the Armed Services Bronze Star Medal, American Defense Service Medal, European, African and Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal, Distinguished Unit Citation Emblem, Good Conduct Medal with two silver loops, and Air Force Longevity Service Award with four Oak Leaf Clusters. After retiring from the US Air Force, he was employed at the Entwistle Company in Hudson from which he again retired after working 20 years.
Joseph was pre-deceased by the late Virginia (Leketa), his wife of 59 years, who passed away in 2007; by his daughter, Sandra in 2000; brothers John, Ignatius, and William Kimelaskas and sisters Blanche Harkins, Beatrice Pigeon, Dianne Gragowski, and Albina Shannon.
He is survived by his two sons, Lt Col, USAF (Retired) Stephen Chimelski and his wife Kathleen of Nashua, NH and Major, USAF (Retired) Scott Chimelski and his wife Dayna of Corpus Christi, TX; his brother, Edward Kimelaskas; his sister, Mary Ghiz, both of Worcester, MA and 6 grandchildren.
A funeral mass will be celebrated on Friday, Jan. 23 at 9:00 a.m. in Saint Michael's Church, 21 Manning Street, Hudson. Burial will follow in Notre Dame Cemetery, Worcester. Calling hours will be held on Thursday, Jan. 22 from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Tighe-Hamilton Funeral Home, Inc. 50 Central St. Hudson, MA 01749.
Joseph Chimelski, 90, of Hudson, passed peacefully away at Harborside Northwood assisted living facility in Bedford, NH on January 19, 2009 after a long battle with Alheimer's disease. Joseph was born in Palmer, MA on October 17, 1918, the son of the late Ignace and Beatrice (Prekarpus) Kimelaskas. He was raised in Worcester, MA.
MSgt USAF (Retired) Joseph Chimelski served a distinguished military career with a combined 23 years in the Army Air Corps, and US Air Force. He attained the rank of MSgt, the highest enlisted grade at the time, in a record 28 months from entering service. In addition to World War II, Korean War, and peacetime supervisory aircraft maintenance positions, he also served as aircraft chief and B-17 chin-gunner in both European and Pacific theaters. He earned numerous awards, medals, and decorations including the Armed Services Bronze Star Medal, American Defense Service Medal, European, African and Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal, Distinguished Unit Citation Emblem, Good Conduct Medal with two silver loops, and Air Force Longevity Service Award with four Oak Leaf Clusters. After retiring from the US Air Force, he was employed at the Entwistle Company in Hudson from which he again retired after working 20 years.
Joseph was pre-deceased by the late Virginia (Leketa), his wife of 59 years, who passed away in 2007; by his daughter, Sandra in 2000; brothers John, Ignatius, and William Kimelaskas and sisters Blanche Harkins, Beatrice Pigeon, Dianne Gragowski, and Albina Shannon.
He is survived by his two sons, Lt Col, USAF (Retired) Stephen Chimelski and his wife Kathleen of Nashua, NH and Major, USAF (Retired) Scott Chimelski and his wife Dayna of Corpus Christi, TX; his brother, Edward Kimelaskas; his sister, Mary Ghiz, both of Worcester, MA and 6 grandchildren.
A funeral mass will be celebrated on Friday, Jan. 23 at 9:00 a.m. in Saint Michael's Church, 21 Manning Street, Hudson. Burial will follow in Notre Dame Cemetery, Worcester. Calling hours will be held on Thursday, Jan. 22 from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Tighe-Hamilton Funeral Home, Inc. 50 Central St. Hudson, MA 01749.
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