OLSZEWSKI, John Paul, "Jack", age 80, Houston, TX resident, born in Milwaukee and raised in Grafton, WI passed away Thursday, June 7, 2018. He was a graduate of The University of Wisconsin, Madison in 1960 and went on to become an esteemed Captain in the Army Special Forces. A Veteran of the Vietnam war, Jack was presented with the distinguished Purple Heart medal, among others. He was known as Bucky Badger not only because of his alma mater, but due to the tenacity and integrity with which he led his Troops and served his Country.  Jack married his beloved friend and partner in life, Jean E Goedert in 1960, and brought daughters Jacqueline (Jackie) and Jill into the world shortly thereafter. Jack was a participative role model for his girls, teaching them how to garden, involving them with tasks that were much more "fun" than "work", and providing for baton classes, Girl Scouts, and beautiful and safe places to lay their heads at night. Jack and Jean were blessed with 42 years of marriage. Jack's occupation was in Materials Management, and he was well-liked and highly regarded by his colleagues, leading the success of multiple industries until his retirement in 2003. Jack's dry sense of humor and engaging storytelling garnered life-long friends throughout the world. He and Jean traveled to 29 countries.

Jack was preceded in death by his loving wife Jean, parents Arthur (Art) and Hazel Owens, and brother, James (Jim) Olszewski. He is survived by his sister, Joan Bland, daughters, Jacqueline and Jill; 2 grandchildren, Rachel and Ross Buster; and two great-grandchildren, Nicholas and Layla. He is also survived by numerous loving in-laws, nieces, nephews and many devoted friends.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 AM, Wednesday, June 20, 2018 at St. Edwards Catholic Church (2601 Spring-Stuebner Road, Spring, Texas). A private internment service will be held for the immediate family at Klein Memorial Park, North Sanctuary (9714 FM 2920 Tomball, Texas). The family would like to express our heartfelt gratitude for the wonderful help and care given by the compassionate teams with Phoenix Home Healthcare and Home Care Assistance, among so many others. If desired and in lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be given to Camp Hope, Houston that serves war Veterans (9724 Derrington Road, Houston, TX  77064 / ptsdusa.org ). Condolences may be sent to the family at kleinfuneralhome.com .

Jack strongly believed that in order to truly make a difference during our time on this earth, one must learn and appreciate the lessons passed down through history. He wished to share with us the following wisdom of U.S. President Teddy Roosevelt (speech delivered in France, 1910):

"It is not the critic who counts, or the man who points out how the strong man stumbles... The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming... (He) who actually spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails... his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat."