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KARASKIEWICZ -- Mr. Sigmund J. Karaskiewicz (Siggy), 88, passed away on Wednesday, February 18, 2004 after a brief illness and with a severely broken heart. Siggy is now in the presence of the Lord and his beloved wife of 57 years, Mary, who preceded him in death by just 39 days. Siggy is survived by his son, Ronald Karaskiewicz, and wife, Dana; three granddaughters, Jennifer Orth and husband, Jim of Kansas City, MO; Lara who is living in San Francisco, CA; and Susan of Albuquerque; his son, Paul Karr of Colorado Springs, CO; and one great-grandson, Joe Orth. Mr. Karaskiewicz will not be remembered in history books, but the world has indeed lost a quiet hero and a real man. Siggy was born in Detroit, Michigan on December 13, 1915 into a turn-of-the-century Polish immigrant family. His family moved to Buffalo, NY to seek work but during the Great Depression he left home as a teenager to work in the Tennessee Valley water project, sending his paychecks home to support his family. With the outbreak of WWII he joined the Army and proudly served as a crypto-qualified radio operator, participating in the invasion of Okinawa. After the war, Siggy spent several years working for General Motors, eventually purchasing a business unit from GM and converting it into a family owned and operated business, United Electric Motors in Buffalo. After retiring and selling the business, Siggy and Mary moved to Albuquerque to be close to their granddaughters. Restless in retirement, he found work with National Car Rental as a part-time driver. He loved working at National because of the friends he made there and for the opportunity to see the southwest. He retired from National at the age of 85. After his second retirement, Siggy loved to play a little poker, enjoyed watching the Buffalo Bills and made an occasional trip to the casinos. Throughout his life Siggy was known for his integrity, his honesty and his values. He was a guiding light, and he will be missed. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated Friday, February 20, 2004, at 10:00 a.m., at Queen of Heaven Catholic Church, 5311 Phoenix Ave. NE. Interment will follow at 1:00 p.m. at the Santa Fe National Cemetery. French Mortuary 7121 Wyoming Blvd. NE 823-9400
        Published on: Thu February 19, 2004