May 7, 1946 — Dec. 31, 2017

Chester “Chet” Lee Tyrakowski, Sr., 71, of Dowagiac, passed away Sunday morning, Dec. 31, 2017 at The Timbers of Cass County with family by his side.

Mass of Christian burial will take place at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2018, at Holy Maternity of Mary, 210 N. Front St., Dowagiac, with Father Richard Altine presiding. Burial will take place at a later date at Riverside Cemetery. Friends may visit with the family from 5 to 7 p.m. at Holy Maternity of Mary on Monday, Jan. 8, 2018, with prayer of the Rosary beginning at 7 p.m.

Memorial contributions may be made in Chet’s name to The Timbers of Cass County – Activities Department, the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, Homes for Our Troops, or to the family. Those wishing to leave an on-line condolence may do so at clarkch.com.

Chet was born on May 7, 1946, in Chicago, to Chester & Josephine (Ciesla) Tyrakowski Stevens.

During high school, Chet ran track/threw shot-put, played football, and became a body-builder. In 1964, he graduated from Dowagiac Union High School with the first class to finish all four years after construction. After attending a trade school in Chicago, he proudly served our country in the United States Navy from 1966 until 1970, during which he spent much of his time stationed on the aircraft carrier USS Independence and in Iceland. He specialized in explosives and photo-videography. Chet was a ‘Jack-Of-All-Trades’ type of guy.

Following the military, he met and married the mother of his children, Deborah Marie Krukowski (Merrill) while working at Jessup Door Company. Soon after and while working at Bendix with his Step-Father, Roger Stevens, and brother Rick, Chet followed his entrepreneurial spirit, founding Excalibur Alarms, one of the first alarm companies in the area. True to his nature, Chet held various positions as a machinist, maintenance technician, and US Census Field Agent to name a few. Chet, along with his brothers Rick and Mark, served as life-guards at the Twin Lakes Beach, was a member of the Twin Lakes Fire Dept., and started the tradition of the annual Twin Lakes 4th of July Fireworks display and festival. He also spent time as president of the Twin Lakes Improvement Association.

Chet was blessed through the sacraments, educated at, and was a member of Holy Maternity of Mary Catholic Church. He had also been a member of the Knights of Columbus. Chet was ahead of his time, and had many hobbies. He could meticulously fix/fabricate just about anything, and loved tinkering. He enoyed CB’s/Radios, anything electronic, video editing, photography, fire-works, medieval stories, westerns, had a passion for paranormal truths & mysteries/wonders of the world, religion, music, joking, gardening, cooking, and eating! He even authored an acclaimed poem.

He stayed up-to-date on all the latest websites, trends and social media. However, more than anything, Chet enjoyed spending time with family and friends. Chet was a charismatic person with a great sense of humor, and will be missed dearly by all.

Chet is survived by his children, Debra (David) Ironside of Dowagiac, Chad (Sara) Tyrakowski of Dowagiac, Chester Tyrakowski, Jr., of Kalamazoo, Chris (Jeff) Kroepel of Dowagiac, and Toni (Matthew) Watters of Lansing; grandchildren, David, Miranda & Anna Ironside, Zach & Kendall Kroepel, and Joey, Lucy & John Watters; and siblings, Terenia “Terry” (Andy) Zawisza and Mark Tyrakowski, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins, all of whom he loved and was proud to call family. Chet was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Richard “Rick” Tyrakowski Sr.