Edward A. Wachala, Sr.

Edward Anthony Wachala Sr. passed away peacefully Sunday Feb 20th at 12:45am at Villas of Holly Brook in Savoy, IL. 

He was born in Czarnozyly, Poland on April 3, 1935, the youngest of four children. He was taken from Poland at five and placed on a work farm in Germany with his mother during World War II. In 1951, while displaced persons, a Priest helped the family emigrated to the United States. After becoming a US citizen, he attended the University of Illinois where he met and married Eloise Kathleen Morris in 1961. Eloise passed away in 1996.  Ed remarried Wilma Gayle Page and she passed away in 2017.

Ed was known for his kind and compassionate heart, mischievousness, occasional joke and his caring and happy nature. There are many examples of his huge heart.  One example, while working at the Bus station in Champaign, part-time, he would help total strangers stranded in Champaign by bringing them to his home, giving them a place to sleep and food to eat, until they were on their way the next day. He would give you the shirt off his back if you needed it. He retired from the Illinois Department of Transportation after 28 years, worked with the Kiwanis Club and volunteered at several hospitals. He attended St Matthews Catholic Church and belonged to the Knights of Columbus. He was a generous and loving son, husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather. He will forever be loved and missed. 

He was preceded in death by his father Antoni Wachala, mother Katarzyna Maria Sojka, his wife Eloise Kathleen Wachala, his second wife Wilma Gayle Page, his three sisters and his grandson Gabriel Evan Wachala. He is survived by his children Kathy Wachala of Ponte Vedra, FL, her children, Danni & Carrie; Teresa Wachala of Tucson, AZ; Ed Wachala Jr. & Sheri Wachala of Champaign, IL, their children Kaleb and Sierra. Kaleb’s wife Katie, their children, Jane & Lucy; and Steve Wachala of Urbana, IL.

People wishing to honor Ed’s life can donate to Transitions Hospice of Champaign County in his name.

There will be a Celebration of his Life on Friday April 1st, 2022, from 4pm to 7pm at Jupiter’s at the Crossing, 2511 Village Green Pl, Champaign, IL

A small graveside service will be held at Holy Cross Cemetery, on Cedar and Second St. in Gillespie, IL, on Sunday April 3rd, 2022, at 11:30am, with Father Mike.

You are invited to join us for brunch afterwards at Ariston Café, 413 Old Rte 66 N, Litchfield, IL 62056

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Edward A. Wachala, Sr., please visit our floral store.