Obituary of Karol Czarniecki

1949 – 2019

Beloved husband of Bev Hiller.

A kind and caring man lost his brief battle with lymphoma and heart disease, on Sunday, July 7, 2019.

Karol Wilhelmus Czarniecki was born in Venlo, Holland on July 27, 1949.  With his family, father Jurek, mother Carolla and sister Julia, he emigrated to Port Coburn, Ontario when he was just a toddler.

Karol developed an interest in the many large boats that made their way through the lock system of the Welland Canal.  But more accessible to his curiosity were the cars of the late 40’s and early 50’s that brought families back into his subdivision at day’s end.

His passion for automobiles followed him through the final days of his life.  While in hospital, friends from the Waterloo County Street Rods came to his bedside toting photos of their latest cars and trucks as well as carefully chosen articles from the most recent automobile magazines.

As constant as his love of classic cars had been, it was Karol’s desire to make a positive difference in the lives of the many young students he taught in his years in education.  With a graduate degree from McMaster University and a post-graduate degree from New York State, he devoted himself totally to the numerous school communities where he taught grades three to eight. Accompanied by his puppet-cohorts Leroy, Spike, Meagan and the Old Man, “Mister C” made learning “fun” as well as challenging, always staying true to encouraging every student to “make the right choice”.  Many of those students have kept in touch with him over the years updating him on their careers and families, sometimes sending photos, sometimes taking him for lunch.

Once he retired, Karol loved to work in the yard and gardens of his beautiful home.  He was a friend to the entire Westvale neighbourhood, helping out with pet-minding, snow shovelling or giving curb-side advice on prospective car purchases.  Acts of kindness large and small and mostly unadvertised were a daily part of his life.

With his loving wife Bev, he was able to enjoy trips to their favourite “haunts” be it as far as Alaska and Lancaster, Pennsylvania, as nostalgic as Nickel Beach or as close as the “fry wagon” in Stratford.

So very many people will be missing “the big guy” in the days and years to come, no one more than his immediate family Bev, Mary Lou and Julia who are devastated by his loss.  He is simply irreplaceable.

For their skill and kindness, special thanks to Dr. Higgins and Dr. Hotfuss of the cardiac team at St. Mary’s Hospital and Dr. Dicu of the Cancer Centre at Grand River Hospital.

Visitation will be held at the Erb & Good Family Funeral Home, 171 King St. S., Waterloo on Thursday, July 11, 2019 from 4:30 – 8:00 p.m.  The funeral service will be held in the chapel of the funeral home on Friday, July 12, 2019 at 11 a.m. preceded by a half hour of Karol’s favourite tunes.  A reception will follow in the funeral home’s Fireside Reception Room.

As expressions of sympathy, donations to the K-W Humane Society and the Donkey Sanctuary of Guelph would be appreciated and may be arranged through the funeral home at www.erbgood.com or 519-745-8445.