Emiljan Kaminski

Emiljan Kaminski “Papa Ski” Emiljan Kaminski passed away peacefully in the comfort of his own home, surrounded by those who loved him on Thursday, June 18, 2009. He was 86. Emiljan was born on February 8, 1923 in Suwalki, Poland. He was the only son of Andrsej Kaminski and Karolina Wilk. He had one sister, Bronislawa, and two half-sisters. His life in Poland was hard, working on a farm, joining the Polish Army and being put in a Nazi work camp. He escaped to America and became a US Citizen in 1952. He joined the US Army in 1950 and five years later switched to the US Air Force. He was in the Explosive Ordinance Disposal Squadron, retiring at the rank of Msgt. His military career took him all over the world, including service in the Korean War. He was proud to serve in the United States Military. Emiljan was a faithful Catholic and attended Christ, Prince of Peace parish on Hill, AFB. He married Irene Heck on February 6, 1954 in Albuquerque, NM. He loved to tell his four daughters stories about how he met his wife…crawling in the hot desert, thirsty for water and she was there to offer him a drink or fighting a bull in an arena and she throwing a rose and he catching it in his teeth. So romantic! And such a storyteller! He loved to go fishing and transferred this love to his grandsons. He loved to grow tomatoes, squash and cucumbers in his garden. He walked almost every day of his life and enjoyed looking for money wherever his feet took him. He always had treats when his grandchildren visited and he especially loved pretzels. He was friendly to all who crossed his path. He will dearly be missed by his loving wife, Irene; four daughters, Karen Kaminski, Puyallup, WA; Mary Kaminski, Sammamish, WA; Julia Ramirez (Jose), High Springs, FL; and Debbie Richardson (Jeff), Layton, UT. He also leaves behind eight adoring grandchildren; Adam, Caryn, Lucas, Kenton, Braden, Kaitlyn, Taylor and Emilee and one great-grandchild, Samuel. Our dad was a great cook and his tradition of making pierogi’s every Christmas Eve will be truly missed by us all. We love you, dad! The family would like to thank Utah Hospice Specialists and Country Pines Retirement Home for their kindness during dad’s last days. Mass of the Christian Burial to be held Monday, June 22, 2009 at 9 a.m. at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church, 210 South Chapel Street, Layton. Friends and family may call Sunday from 6 to 7 p.m. at Lindquist’s Layton Mortuary, 1867 North Fairfield Rd. Rosary service at 7 p.m. Interment, Lindquist’s Memorial Park at Layton, 1867 North Fairfield Rd.