Walter Iwanicki age 97, passed away on March 17, 2018, surrounded by family in the home built by his dad and he lived in since the tender age of 5. He was predeceased by his loving wife Sophie in 1987 and will be buried beside her at Holy Mother of the Rosary Cemetery in Chicopee. He leaves two daughters Jo-Ann Iwanicki of Chicopee and Donna Furr and her husband Steven of Chicopee and four sons Stanley and his wife Kathy of Chicopee, Mark and his wife Christine of Belchertown, Walter S. of Chicopee and John and his wife JeanMarie of Norwell. He also leaves nine grandchildren, Hilary, Kyle, Andrew, Tess, Emma, Genevieve, Isabella, Allana and Ainsley and other relatives and friends. He was predeceased by his granddaughter Heather, his daughter-in-law Lisa and his sister Florence Pawlikowski. Walter was born December 6, 1920 in Chicopee. He is the son of the late Ignacy (1893-1971) and Jozefa (1897-1968) (Salva) Iwanicki. Ignacy left Poland to seek a better life for himself in the United States. He met Jozefa and began a family. Walter graduated from Chicopee High School in 1938 and worked in the poultry producing business, Iwanicki & Son, started by his dad until September 15, 1942 when he enlisted in the United States Navy to become a Naval Aviator. As part of his officer training, Walter attended Flight Preparatory School at Williams College, War Training Service at Amherst College, Pre-Flight Preparatory School at UNC Chapel Hill, Primary Flight School at Bunker Hill, Indiana and Operational and Intermediate Flight Training at Jacksonville, Florida, Pensacola, Florida and Whidbey Island, Washington. Walter received his Navy Wings of Gold after completing the Navy’s V-5 program at Williams College where he entered active service on March 2, 1943. He received his commission as a 1st Lieutenant (jg) on September 1, 1944. Walter served in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater in the Philippines where he piloted a PBY Catalina as part of the VPB-71 Black Cat Squadron stationed on Manus Island. Though Walter did not talk much about his duties, the Black Cat Squadron flew night combat operations against enemy shipping and shore installations, air-sea rescue operations and transportation missions. Walter was honorably discharged from active duty April 23, 1946 having received a World War II Victory Medal Ribbon. Following shortly thereafter was a letter from Secretary of the Navy James Forrestal personally thanking Walter for his service. As one of the Greatest Generation, Walter returned home to take up civilian life, marry his sweetheart and begin raising a family. Walter returned to the poultry producing business with his father and founded or became a member of many clubs in Chicopee including the Moose, the Elks, the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars to name a few. In the early 50’s he was appointed to the City if Chicopee Planning Board and helped chart the development of the City during economic prosperity which helped shaped the City as it exists today. Walter remained active in city politics. A self-employed businessman, Walter transformed the poultry producing business to rotisserie cooking in the late 60’s which still exists today as a popular family business. He also built a successful gas station and car wash business which provided skills and jobs to many neighborhood kids and reservists at Westover Air Force Base. Being self-employed and working right next door, Walter was always available to his family and worked side by side with his children throughout the years which was the greatest blessing he could have provided. Never truly retired, Walter provided daily advice and counsel to his children on matters of business and life. Having survived and thrived through the Great Depression, World War II, raising a family, several businesses and a long life at 97, Walter was fond of saying, “It’s a great life if you don’t weaken.” Walter’s love and inspiration will be missed but never forgotten. The family would also like to give a special thanks to Natalya of the Holyoke VNA & Hospice Life Care. A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, March 24, 2018 at 11 a.m. at the Grise Funeral Home 280 Springfield St. Chicopee. Burial will follow in Holy Mother of the Rosary Cemetery in Chicopee. Calling Hours will held on Saturday, March 24, 2018 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the funeral home. Donations may be made in Walter’s name to the Holyoke VNA & Hospice Life Care 20 Hospital Drive, 3rd Floor, Holyoke, MA 01040.