William C. Bilenki

William Charles Bilenki “Beans”, formerly of Brooklyn Park and Curtis Bay, died peacefully surrounded by his family on December 30, 2018 at the age of 99.

Greeting Will at the Heavenly Gates are his parents, Jacob and Mary, first wife Anna, brothers John, Paul, Peter, Michael, James, Anthony, George and sister Helen.

Will is survived by his son David Bilenki (Judy), daughter Louise Cundiff, granddaughters Ann-Marie Yesko (Andy); Jennifer Michael (Jamie); Holly Washington (Marc). Six great grandchildren: Jeffrey, Kristen, Erin, Emma, Colton, Alexis, two great grandchildren Adelyn, and Milli, brother in-law Charles Weishaar, many nieces and nephews, second wife Romaine Ouimette and family.

Will was born in Baltimore on April 22, 1919.  He lived in Locust Point until the family moved to Curtis Bay.  He enlisted in the Army on January 16, 1941.  In May 1941, Will married the love of his life, Anna Brzozowski and they settled into a row home on Sycamore Street in Curtis Bay.

In 1942, Will trained at Ft. Sam Houston in San Antonio Texas for 7 months and went on to serve with the 23rd Infantry Regiment in the US, England, Wales, Ireland and France. After training in Northern Ireland and Wales from October 1943 to June 1944, SSG Bilenki and the 2nd Infantry Division crossed the English Channel and landed on Omaha Beach June 7, 1944 – D Day +1.       

On August 28, 1944, SSG Bilenki stepped on a German land mine in Brest, France.  After and extensive recovery in Europe and the US, he was discharged with full honors on November 20, 1945.  Due to his injuries, he would become permanently disabled. He was awarded 2 Purple Hears and a Bronze Star.

Will and Anna moved to Brooklyn Park in 1970.  In his basement workshop, Will enjoyed a host of hobbies over the years and made beautiful jewelry out of gold, built unique and custom birdhouses, and horse carousels.  He restored and painted things. He simply loved to tinker around in his workshop.  Most days, you would find him there wearing jeans and a white t-shirt covered in paint remnants. Will took great pride and impeccably maintained his home and grounds. He enjoyed owning and driving nice cars.  Will worked for the VA as a Dental Technician at the Federal Building in Baltimore for more than 35 years until the day of his big retirement party in September 1983. He was an original charter member of the Curtis Bay Athletic Club and enjoyed spending time with his family at the club shore in Pasadena. He served as Treasurer for the Mid Atlantic Branch of the Second Indianhead Division Association from the late 80’s in to the early 2000’s.

Will had a fantastic sense of humor and a larger than life personality. Although he was in constant physical pain due to the injuries he sustained in the war, he never complained. His smile and laughter were infectious. He was always happy and joking around. Will found joy in the simplest of things. He loved to eat out daily and would usually frequent favorite eateries Mikie’s and Milt’s Rendezvous.

In March 2015, Will was inducted into the French Legion of Honour as a Chevalier (Knight). This award is the highest decoration bestowed in France to American Veterans who served in France during WWI & WWII.

The 2nd Infantry Division motto is “Second to None”         

The discipline and patriotism Will learned in the army never left him.

Will was a true American Hero and the epitome of our nation’s Greatest Generation.

He will be greatly missed and his memory cherished.

The family would like to thank everyone who helped care for their Hero: Heart Home/Inspirations, Anne Arundel Medical Center, Spring Arbor Assisted Living and Hospice of the Chesapeake.

Interment will be held on April 22, 2019, 2019 at 12:00 P.M. at Cedar Hill Cemetery.

Memorial donations can be made to: The Gary Sinise Foundation or to the Wounded Warrior Project                                                                                       www.garysinisefoundation.org   www.woundedwarriorproject.org 

William Charles Bilenki “Beans”, formerly of Brooklyn Park and Curtis Bay, died peacefully surrounded by his family on December 30, 2018 at the age of 99.

Greeting Will at the Heavenly Gates are his parents, Jacob and Mary, first wife Anna, brothers John, Paul, Peter, Michael, James, Anthony, George and sister Helen.

Will is survived by his son David Bilenki (Judy), daughter Louise Cundiff, granddaughters Ann-Marie Yesko (Andy); Jennifer Michael (Jamie); Holly Washington (Marc). Six great grandchildren: Jeffrey, Kristen, Erin, Emma, Colton, Alexis, two great grandchildren Adelyn, and Milli, brother in-law Charles Weishaar, many nieces and nephews, second wife Romaine Ouimette and family.

Will was born in Baltimore on April 22, 1919.  He lived in Locust Point until the family moved to Curtis Bay.  He enlisted in the Army on January 16, 1941.  In May 1941, Will married the love of his life, Anna Brzozowski and they settled into a row home on Sycamore Street in Curtis Bay.

In 1942, Will trained at Ft. Sam Houston in San Antonio Texas for 7 months and went on to serve with the 23rd Infantry Regiment in the US, England, Wales, Ireland and France. After training in Northern Ireland and Wales from October 1943 to June 1944, SSG Bilenki and the 2nd Infantry Division crossed the English Channel and landed on Omaha Beach June 7, 1944 – D Day +1.       

On August 28, 1944, SSG Bilenki stepped on a German land mine in Brest, France.  After and extensive recovery in Europe and the US, he was discharged with full honors on November 20, 1945.  Due to his injuries, he would become permanently disabled. He was awarded 2 Purple Hears and a Bronze Star.

Will and Anna moved to Brooklyn Park in 1970.  In his basement workshop, Will enjoyed a host of hobbies over the years and made beautiful jewelry out of gold, built unique and custom birdhouses, and horse carousels.  He restored and painted things. He simply loved to tinker around in his workshop.  Most days, you would find him there wearing jeans and a white t-shirt covered in paint remnants. Will took great pride and impeccably maintained his home and grounds. He enjoyed owning and driving nice cars.  Will worked for the VA as a Dental Technician at the Federal Building in Baltimore for more than 35 years until the day of his big retirement party in September 1983. He was an original charter member of the Curtis Bay Athletic Club and enjoyed spending time with his family at the club shore in Pasadena. He served as Treasurer for the Mid Atlantic Branch of the Second Indianhead Division Association from the late 80’s in to the early 2000’s.

Will had a fantastic sense of humor and a larger than life personality. Although he was in constant physical pain due to the injuries he sustained in the war, he never complained. His smile and laughter were infectious. He was always happy and joking around. Will found joy in the simplest of things. He loved to eat out daily and would usually frequent favorite eateries Mikie’s and Milt’s Rendezvous.

In March 2015, Will was inducted into the French Legion of Honour as a Chevalier (Knight). This award is the highest decoration bestowed in France to American Veterans who served in France during WWI & WWII.

The 2nd Infantry Division motto is “Second to None”         

The discipline and patriotism Will learned in the army never left him.

Will was a true American Hero and the epitome of our nation’s Greatest Generation.

He will be greatly missed and his memory cherished.

The family would like to thank everyone who helped care for their Hero: Heart Home/Inspirations, Anne Arundel Medical Center, Spring Arbor Assisted Living and Hospice of the Chesapeake.

Interment will be held on April 22, 2019, 2019 at 12:00 P.M. at Cedar Hill Cemetery.

Memorial donations can be made to: The Gary Sinise Foundation or to the Wounded Warrior Project                                                                                       www.garysinisefoundation.org   www.woundedwarriorproject.org 

William Charles Bilenki “Beans”, formerly of Brooklyn Park and Curtis Bay, died peacefully surrounded by his family on December 30, 2018 at the age of 99.

Greeting Will at the Heavenly Gates are his parents, Jacob and Mary, first wife Anna, brothers John, Paul, Peter, Michael, James, Anthony, George and sister Helen.

Will is survived by his son David Bilenki (Judy), daughter Louise Cundiff, granddaughters Ann-Marie Yesko (Andy); Jennifer Michael (Jamie); Holly Washington (Marc). Six great grandchildren: Jeffrey, Kristen, Erin, Emma, Colton, Alexis, two great grandchildren Adelyn, and Milli, brother in-law Charles Weishaar, many nieces and nephews, second wife Romaine Ouimette and family.

Will was born in Baltimore on April 22, 1919.  He lived in Locust Point until the family moved to Curtis Bay.  He enlisted in the Army on January 16, 1941.  In May 1941, Will married the love of his life, Anna Brzozowski and they settled into a row home on Sycamore Street in Curtis Bay.

In 1942, Will trained at Ft. Sam Houston in San Antonio Texas for 7 months and went on to serve with the 23rd Infantry Regiment in the US, England, Wales, Ireland and France. After training in Northern Ireland and Wales from October 1943 to June 1944, SSG Bilenki and the 2nd Infantry Division crossed the English Channel and landed on Omaha Beach June 7, 1944 – D Day +1.       

On August 28, 1944, SSG Bilenki stepped on a German land mine in Brest, France.  After and extensive recovery in Europe and the US, he was discharged with full honors on November 20, 1945.  Due to his injuries, he would become permanently disabled. He was awarded 2 Purple Hears and a Bronze Star.

Will and Anna moved to Brooklyn Park in 1970.  In his basement workshop, Will enjoyed a host of hobbies over the years and made beautiful jewelry out of gold, built unique and custom birdhouses, and horse carousels.  He restored and painted things. He simply loved to tinker around in his workshop.  Most days, you would find him there wearing jeans and a white t-shirt covered in paint remnants. Will took great pride and impeccably maintained his home and grounds. He enjoyed owning and driving nice cars.  Will worked for the VA as a Dental Technician at the Federal Building in Baltimore for more than 35 years until the day of his big retirement party in September 1983. He was an original charter member of the Curtis Bay Athletic Club and enjoyed spending time with his family at the club shore in Pasadena. He served as Treasurer for the Mid Atlantic Branch of the Second Indianhead Division Association from the late 80’s in to the early 2000’s.

Will had a fantastic sense of humor and a larger than life personality. Although he was in constant physical pain due to the injuries he sustained in the war, he never complained. His smile and laughter were infectious. He was always happy and joking around. Will found joy in the simplest of things. He loved to eat out daily and would usually frequent favorite eateries Mikie’s and Milt’s Rendezvous.

In March 2015, Will was inducted into the French Legion of Honour as a Chevalier (Knight). This award is the highest decoration bestowed in France to American Veterans who served in France during WWI & WWII.

The 2nd Infantry Division motto is “Second to None”         

The discipline and patriotism Will learned in the army never left him.

Will was a true American Hero and the epitome of our nation’s Greatest Generation.

He will be greatly missed and his memory cherished.

The family would like to thank everyone who helped care for their Hero: Heart Home/Inspirations, Anne Arundel Medical Center, Spring Arbor Assisted Living and Hospice of the Chesapeake.

Interment will be held on April 22, 2019, 2019 at 12:00 P.M. at Cedar Hill Cemetery.

Memorial donations can be made to: The Gary Sinise Foundation or to the Wounded Warrior Project                                                                                       www.garysinisefoundation.org   www.woundedwarriorproject.org 

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