Polish war hero, longtime Palatine resident, passes away
A Palatine man who fought against the German invasion of Poland in 1939, escaped from two POW camps, and served as a Polish freedom fighter, has passed away.
Jerzy Bekier left his homeland of Poland nearly 70 years ago after the German invasion, but he never stopped thinking of himself as a Polish soldier and defender of its democracy.
He died Monday at 96.
Mr. Bekier's long life enabled him to see the fall of communism in Poland in 1989, as well as the election of a Polish pope, both from the vantage point of his home in Palatine, his adopted homeland since 1960.
His own father, Mikolai, was a soldier in the Polish Cavalry when Poland was occupied by Russia. As a member of the Russian Army Band, he played before Czar Nicholas II in St. Petersburg.
When Mr. Bekier enlisted in cavalry unit of the Polish Army, at the age of 18, he first played French horn in the Polish Army Band, which his father led.
"My father was proud to have become a naturalized citizen," says his daughter Janina Sather of Geneva, "but he will always remain a soldier of Poland."
His heroic actions drew the attention of officials at the Polish Consulate in Chicago, when in 1991 they awarded him with a special cross to recognize his service with the Polish Second Corps in Western Europe at the end of World War II.
The cross reflected his role in the Battle of Monte Cassino, when the Polish Second Corps was able to capture the strategic point 50 miles north of Naples, enabling Allied forces to advance up the Italian peninsula.
Mr. Bekier also received a service medallion from consulate officials for his defense of Poland in 1939.
It was his role with the Polish Second Corps - assembled to defend the Polish democracy that was operating in exile in England - that Mr. Bekier came to meet his English wife, Anne.
They came to the United States in 1951, before settling in Palatine where they raised their family. Mr. Bekier worked for a printing firm in Niles, but during retirement he found time to devote to such peaceful pursuits as stamp collecting, photography and gardening.
He finally returned to Poland after democracy was restored, and he also traveled to see Pope John Paul II.
Besides his daughter, Mr. Bekier is survived by his wife Anne, children Kathleen (Dan) Horn and Lisa Bekier; as well as six grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.
Visitation will take place from 3-8 p.m. at Smith-Corcoran Funeral Home, 185 E. Northwest Hwy. in Palatine, before a 10 a.m. funeral Mass at St. Theresa Catholic Church, 467 N. Benton St., Palatine.