Robert Anthony Kulesza

Robert “Bob /Bobby” Kulesza was born on December 4, 1942. He died peacefully in his sleep on April 15, 2026. He is preceded in death by Grandmother Josephine Derus, Mother Joanna Kulesza, younger brother Bruce Kulesza, and younger brother Basil (Antoinette) McElvain. He left behind his wife of 61 years, Dolores Kulesza, daughter Antonette (Charles), grandchildren Stephanie (Nathan, 2027) and Christian Lamberty, his younger sister Marie Nesci, and his younger brother Don McElvain, and a few nieces and nephews.

He lived in Bucktown for most of his young life, with his Grandmother, Mother, and siblings. He dropped out of school in the 5th grade to help provide for his family. His best friend Ken introduced him to his sister Dolores, and in 1964 he married the love of his life, four years later they had Antonette. They moved to Jefferson Park in 1973, where Antonette attended Lutheran schools from the age of 5 until 22. To assure better schooling and way of life for his family he often worked two and three jobs as a maintenance man, while being a handyman to everyone. His range of knowledge was endless, from new machines for work, to cars, to every utility and appliance for the home… the list goes on and on. His family always had a house full of pets and the door was open for friends and family. He also loved to go to his summer home in Wisconsin to fish, hunt, see friends, and work in his garden. In 1994, Antonette married Charles and 4 and 6 years later they had two children, Stephanie and Christian that Granddaddy adored, and later they helped to take care of him from time to time. When he retired he began scavenging the neighborhood for scrap items, his instinct was always to take care of the people he cared about, family, neighbors, and friends. By the Christmas of 2025 his mind and body was rebelling against all of the hard work he had done for most of his life. He was seen going in and out of hospitals, rehab centers, and home. Beating all of the odds that he would not see the Easter of 2019, he was surrounded by his family for the Easter of 2026, while eating a slice of pizza he requested (although he said he hated cheese). Shortly after he went into a hospice like situation and on April 15, 2026, at approximately 11:23am any number of illnesses took a toll on him (heart disease, leg blood clots, cancer, pneumonia, or his body just giving up). We pray that our loving Lord and Savior has taken him to be with Him. (He claimed if he entered a church it may fall on him, but it never did.)

The wake will be on Friday, April 24 at Cumberland Chapel Funeral Home, 8300 W. Lawrence (Country Western attire optional) from 3 to 8 pm and he will be laid to rest on Saturday, April 25 at Irving Park Cemetery, Highland Section. We will meet at Cumberland Chapel for a prayer at 10:30am, and proceed to the cemetery for a short service. Afterward there will be a party, at his request, at the St. Paul Lutheran Church Gymnasium, 5650 N. Canfield. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to come and eat, share stories, and if you are up to it, do a little jig in his memory (he loved to dance).