Walter T. Mayszak

The world has lost a remarkable man when Walter Mayszak passed away on April 1^st, 2023. Walter was a devout family man and was always ready to lend a helpful hand. There wasn’t anything that Walt or Vatzy as his close friends knew him didn’t know how to do. There will be private graveside services for the family only arranged by Ptak Funeral Home.

Walter was born on September 6, 1928, to Helen (Kardas) and Joseph Mayszak at Peru Hospital. He attended St. Valentines’ Grade School. On February 5, 1950, he married his love and constant companion Loretta Filipiak at St. Valentines’ Church. .She passed away in  2007, after 57 years of marriage. They were blessed with four children: Paul (Janet) Of Peru Michael (Sherry) of Peru, Karen Mosbach of Peru, Donna Schmitz (James) of LaSalle both deceased. He is survived by one sister Rosemary Stevens. He has ten grandchildren  Matthew Schmitz of LaMoille, Douglas Schmitz, deceased, Margie Perkins Deceased, Steven Mayszak, Seattle, Washington, Peter Mayszak(Bobbi Jo), Ottawa ,Joseph Mayszak (Kayla) of Peru, Emily Mayszak of Kenosha Wisconsin,  Samuel Mayszak of Peru, Amanda Coakley of Peru, Max Mosbach at home, Nathan Martin,  Halee Schmitz of La Moille and Jade Schmitz He also had two brothers and a sister who proceeded him in death. Raymond Mayszak, Edward Mayszak and Patricia Newton. He is also survived by 10 great-grand-children and three great-great grandchildren as well as many nieces and nephews.

Having lived through the depression Walter found that he was often needed to help care for his family. Fishing on the Illinois river provided much of their food as well as their home garden but the often fed homeless that wandered up from the train tracks that were close to the family home. It was a great adventure to hop the trains in his teens and ride to Chicago where he had relatives.

He had a deep uneasiness about storms. It may have stemmed from losing his relative on the river during a storm. He had gone out fishing on a stormy night and everyone could see the light bobbing and then it was gone. He was never to be found.

Walt had a variety of jobs throughout his life. There was little he was incapable of doing including building a house from the ground up. He worked at the Peru Zinc Works and later after a lay-off at a packing factory in Rockford.

In 1990 he retired as detective from the Peru Police Department after 30 years of service.

He could tell interesting stories of the history of Peru. Our only regret is that we didn’t tape them.

He even moved his house from where they where constructing 251. It was an amazing undertaking.

Walt was an avid fisherman and loved to go the Chetek Wisconsin and later Bellevue Iowa where he had a trailer on the Mississippi.

Walter was a member of St. Mary’s Parish in Peru. When Pastor Fagan was there, he did many repair jobs for him.

He was very devoted to his grandson Max who lived with him.

Walter was one of the last great family men. There wasn’t anything he wouldn’t do for his family. Even in these later years if he heard that one of his grandchild were doing a project he would wonder why they didn’t ask his help.

 He left this world surrounded by his family as he would have wanted it. The family asks instead of monetary donations, please make donations to Dementia research or the American Cancer Society.

Online condolences and memories may be shared at PtakFH.com