William (Bill) Marshalek was b orn and raised in Chicago, IL, where he lived on Goose Island (he would tell you it was the only true Island in Chicago). He was a graduate of Mundelein Cathedral High and attended various night classes at Harper College.

Bill and Dona celebrated their 54th wedding anniversary last May. He is the very proud father of four grown sons, Bill, Tom, Mike, and Bob, and grandfather to 16 grandchildren.

A legend in the printing for 45 years, he worked for Popular Mechanics, Deluxe Check Printer's, then in Houston, Rein Company, Apperson Business Forms, and Wetmore. During one of the cyclical downturns in Houston, he went to school with the Texas Employment Department that teaches a person a new career. Bill chose to become a beautician. He won 2nd prize in a style show and tried working at a salon, but could not understand the mindset of people working in that field so he tried Real Estate. He got his license during the next downturn. Needless to say, he never sold a house. But he learned a lot which served us well when we sold our home in Bear Creek after 32 years.

To know him was to instantly become his best friend. Bill never met a stranger - not on the golf course, the grocery store, or at the doctor's office. He loved to talk to people, tell a joke, and get a laugh.

He loved to travel and when we retired we went everywhere cruising by train, plane, and automobile. His very favorite places were Poland, Spain, and Italy, all of which he would go back to at the drop of a hat.

He loved to cook, especially homemade chicken soup, and he was famous for his chili and Italian meatballs.

Bill was an artist using oil, chalk ,or just a pencil. He loved crossword puzzles, Jeopardy (and you better not call him while it's on), jigsaw puzzles, and lately, the Chronicle Jumble.

He was a musician, he played the accordion, read music, and decided a year ago, or so, that he wanted to learn to play the guitar. So he went to the store, got tons of sheet music, and found sites on the Internet that had sheet music you could copy. He spent 15 years trying to master conversation Spanish. He would try to speak to anyone that would list and often even dared to correct Spanish speaking individuals. His daughter-in-law, Sonia, tried and tried to help him and he did listen her instructions.

He spent many hours researching his Polish family tree, including trips to Ellis Island and Krakow and Tarnow in Poland. He tracked as far back as the 16th century with information.

He hated to drive, but loved scratch off lottery tickets and the casino at Lake Charles and on the cruise ships.

He loved the Black Hawks and never missed a game on TV. While living in Chicago, he would get tickets behind the penalty box and take the boys to the games. Bill enjoyed camping, fishing, and boating with his children. He enjoyed participating in Cub Scouts and Little League sports. Early in his retirement, he served as a "nanny" for three of his grandchildren, and his daughters-in-law were his "girlfriends." He went with them to take their kids to the doctors' appointments and then would take them to lunch.

He was an avid coin collector and loved watches. Every time we went on a cruise, he'd come home with a new watch. He was what one would call "penny wise and pound foolish". He thought nothing of spending $30 on a salt gun that shoots flies, but getting him to update a 10-year-old computer? Well...forget it.

He is so loved and will be missed greatly by all who came to know him.

Friends are cordially invited to visit with the family from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, August 11, at Klein Funeral Home - CyFair Northwest, 9719 Wortham Boulevard, Houston, TX 77065.