Online Obituaries

Casimir J. Kruzel, 83, of Somers, passed away peacefully on Sunday, January 30, 2022 at Johnson Memorial Hospital in Stafford Springs. He was born on February 10, 1938 in Trzciana, Poland-son of the late Anthony and Mary (Kuras) Kruzel. As a young man, he trained as a toolmaker in Mielec, working on an assembly line in a plant that manufactured Soviet MIG aircraft. In September 1961 he stepped off the SS America in New York City and made his way to Springfield, Massachusetts where he started to make his American dream a reality. For more than a decade, Casimir refined his skills while employed by manufacturers like Point Machine Co. in East Windsor, CT and Package Machinery in East Longmeadow, MA. Ultimately, with the help of his brothers in law Edward Gazdowicz and Joseph Kowal, he founded his own business in 1973–C.E.J. Tool Company in Enfield, CT.

Throughout his career Casimir worked tirelessly with one goal in mind, to create a life for his five children that was better than his own. He and his first wife, the late Jane (Kowal) Kruzel, worked side by side to expand the business while simultaneously raising a family. By 1980 he had made a name for himself in the local manufacturing community and was asked to merge his company with Peerless Tool and Machine Co. Inc. which is still a thriving business today. Casimir’s reputation as an honest businessman and brilliant machinist, along with his keen engineering mind earned him the respect of his many clients and colleagues. He retired from his profession in 2020 after 47 years of employing and mentoring dozens of budding machinists, many of whom are still employed by Peerless to this day.

Outside of work he was his childrens’ greatest fan. His unmistakably loud voice could always be heard cheering from the bleachers of countless basketball games, and he applauded enthusiastically from the audience at school concerts. His hope for his children was that they would embrace the opportunities he hadn’t had when he was young. So, he encouraged academic excellence and considered it his greatest success when all five of his children graduated college.

Casimir was a faithful communicant of the Basilica of St. Stanislaus where he sang in the choir (also loudly). He enjoyed reading—mostly about history and science, feeding the fish and turtles in his backyard pond, and sitting in his gazebo on an island he built himself. He loved to take his children on Sunday drives when they were young, and as an avid aircraft enthusiast he brought them to every air show that came to town. He loved to take cruises for his vacations, an Alaskan cruise was among his favorite trips. Casimir’s subtle sense of humor would catch you off-guard, and leave you smiling for days. He will be missed.

Casimir is survived by his wife, Anna J. Wojcik-Kruzel; five children, Margaret Kruzel and her husband, Bruce LaMarche of Whittier, CA; Walter J. Kruzel and his wife, Debbi of Enfield, CT; Christine Ranno of Sherman, CT; Casimir J. Kruzel, Jr. and his wife, Melissa of Somers, CT and B.J. Knapp and her husband, Todd of Coventry, RI.; a sister, Jessica Dziurzynski of West Springfield; brother-in-law, Edward Cwieka of Chicopee. He was exceedingly proud to be a grandfather, or Dziadziu, to his 11 grandchildren: Rachael, Magdalena and her husband, Daniel, Madison, Krystian, Robert, Janina, Maya, Spencer, GraceMaria, Halina and Cassidy. Recently he became a great grandfather to great grandson, Lukas. He is predeceased by his first wife, Jane K. (Kowal) Kruzel who died in 2001 and a sister, Gladys Cwieka.

His funeral will be held on Thursday, February 3, 2022 from the Cierpial Memorial Funeral Home on 69 EAST ST. in Chicopee Falls at 9 am followed by a Liturgy of Christian Burial in the Basilica of St. Stanislaus, 566 Front St. in Chicopee at 10 am. Burial will be in St. Stanislaus Cemetery. Calling hours are on Wednesday from 5 to 8 pm. Memorial contributions may be made to the Basilica of St. Stanislaus, 40 Cyman Dr. Chicopee, MA 01013.