Edward Wojack

Born in 1928 into a proud Polish family living in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Edward Wojack was a twin with 6 brothers and 2 sisters. Eds parents Regina and Matthew Wojciak had immigrated from Krakow, Poland in the early 20th century and settled in the Midwestern city of Minneapolis. Growing up, young Ed spoke only Polish at home, but quickly started learning English when he started school and served as the family translator. Life was a bit more difficult back in those days and his family worked hard to make ends meet. His father Matthew worked at the railroad and his older brothers took his place whenever he was sick. Ed lost his twin brother Mitchell in a tragic car accident when he was just two where he was saved by his older brother Walter.Ed grew up on the Mississippi River and in the train yards around Minnesota. Diving off bridges, swimming in the Mississippi, and jumping on and off box cars were just part of life. Ed was an avid reader who did very well in school and went into the Army just after high school near the end of WWII. Ed was sent to Korea to serve prior to the official start of the Korean War, going through the city of Seattle to take a Navy ship to deploy in Korea. Ed had many stories and memories from those challenging days including having to walk across mine fields. He accumulated a bit of Korean language skills as well. After two years of service, he left the Army and then joined the Air Force.After Korea, Ed courted and married Josephine in 1950. They started their family in Minneapolis with Edward and then Kathryn before Ed was sent to the Territory of Alaska in 1956. Their family grew with the birth of Susan followed by the twins, Michael and Karen. Ed was then sent to California where their sixth child, Nancy, was born.The family moved with the Air Force going to Biloxi, Mississippi during the Cuban Missile Crises, and then on to the radar station in the little towns of Hope and Finley, North Dakota. Eds last post before retiring was in beautiful Spokane, Washington. With a family of six children, 20 years of service, and the Vietnam War ongoing, Ed reluctantly retired from the Air Force in the rank of Master Sargent and a veteran of three wars (WWII, Korea, and Vietnam) to start life as a civilian. Ed was very proud of his service and loved military life. Ed had a knack for computers and a series of events landed the family in the Seattle area working for the Burroughs Corporation. Ed completed his Bachelor and Masters degrees while raising his growing family. We all remember taking Dad to the airport for travel and our big night out for dinner at Jimbos local family restaurant. With a family of six children, you dont get to eat out that often!As a father, Ed, together with his wife Josephine, taught his six children the importance of education, music, theater, musicals, faith, being leaders, and pursuing your passions. He had an excellent singing voice and was really good at harmonizing. Ed was a really good father and loved to play hide-and-seek with all his children, creeping along the floor at night (softly laughing at us with his snidely whiplash laugh) while we lay excited and terrified all at the same time knowing that he was out there somewhere. Ed had a genius IQ and worked hard to support his familys needs and was known to make money on the side doing repairs on cars, TVs, and other mechanical devices. Ed would pocket overtime and extra money to treat his family to rare dinners out, vacations, and theater (Gilbert and Sullivan, Rogers and Hammerstein).Ed was a great cook and even taught his wife Josephine how to make pies she just couldnt get the knack of rolling out the pie shell (one ended up on the wall). He was a very devoted Catholic and contributed to building the new St. Pius X church and assisted with the youth group with a very young Father Renggli. Ed followed all the church rules but was known to celebrate the end of Lent at one minute after midnight by frying French fries, what a treat to wake up to as a kid!We never had any male or female roles in our family, we just worked together and then we played together. Our parents taught us to be strong, and hardworking, to be loving, and to love God, and to be the best we could be! Dad would always tell us, if you have to be in a group of sheep, always be the leader, not a follower and that is why we are who we all are today!The death of his oldest son, Edward, in 1971 to cancer shook his faith and changed our lives. Ed eventually moved onto a new life in the late 1970s and married Ethel Moss Hayes in 1981. Ethel and Ed enjoyed traveling and bought a motor home to live the life of RVrs. They went many places, but settled into a winter/summer routine driving the RV between Beale Air Force Base, CA and Spokane, WA, and later, Spokane and Maryhill State Park, WA. They loved Rving and our family enjoyed visiting the campers. When Ethel died in 2010, Ed decided to relocate closer to his family in the north Seattle area. We enjoyed family gatherings, outings to air shows and museums, and dinners at our favorite places (Susumus and 112 Street Diner). Ed had not lost his knack with the ladies and found some special lady friends (Elva and Thelma) in his assisted living homes, making his life more meaningful.Thank you to the Seabrook, Brookdale, and Pacifica staff who provided good care and companionship for our father Ed. You listened to his stories, smiled at his Korean and Polish and even Latin greetings, and helped set his TV to Dancing with the Stars and Criminal Minds when we called! Thank you so much!Ed was preceded in death by his parents, Matthew and Regina; all his brothers and sisters John, Hank, Mary, George, William, Walter, Anne, and twin brother Mitchell; his son Edward; his son-in-law Don, and his second wife Ethel.Ed is survived by his first wife Josephine; his son and daughters Kathryn (Steve), Susan, Michael (Traci), Karen, and Nancy; seven grandchildren (three spouses); nine great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. We are so thankful he was able to meet all his great-grandchildren!We loved him and will miss him! Rest in peace!Ed will be buried at Holyrood Catholic Cemetery in Shoreline, WA.