Online Obituaries

William E. “Shrimp” Wilk, 70, of Chicopee, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, November 18, 2015 at home. He was a retired City of Chicopee Police Officer.  Bill was born September 22, 1945 and raised in Chicopee.  He was the son of the late Joseph J. Wilk Sr. and Helen (Grzywoc) Wilk.  Bill was a communicant of the Basilica of St. Stanislaus. He attended Patrick E. Bowe School and later graduated from St. Stanislaus School.  Bill attended Chicopee High School and transferred to Chicopee Vocational High School, and graduated in 1964.  Chicopee Vocational High School Welding Dept. awarded him the Highest Scholastic Achievement Award. Bill worked at Kleeberg Sheet Metal as a welder.  He served in the U. S. Navy from 1966 to 1969 during the Vietnam War.  He received the good conduct medal and the Vietnam Campaign medal. Bill was stationed at the Sub Base in New London, CT and served aboard the USS Gearing DD 710 out of Newport, RI.  He was appointed a Reserve Chicopee Police Officer in 1968.  Bill was appointed a Chicopee Police Officer in 1969.  Throughout his career, he worked as a dispatcher, ambulance driver, cruiser driver and walking beatman, as a detective in the Detective Bureau, in the Traffic Bureau and in the Records and Computer Room.  He was one of two appointed Enhanced 9-1-1 Coordinators for the City of Chicopee. At the present time, Bill was a security guard at Hannoush Jewelers.  He was a member of the Massachusetts Police Association. Bill loved classic cars, especially his prize possession, his 1985 Corvette and Nascar Racing.  He also enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren.

He is survived by his wife of thirty four years, Elizabeth A. ”Betty” (Tenczar) Wilk; his three daughters, Melanie Wilk, Alyson Wilk and her fiancé, Eddie Estrella and Jessica Wilk, all of Chicopee; a brother, Joseph Wilk, Jr and his wife, Brenda of Chicopee; his sister, Sandra Sweet of Palmer; five beloved grandchildren, Nixon Estrella, Brynn Estrella, Weston Estrella, and twins, Harper and J.J. Butterworth; son-in-law, James Townsend-Butterworth, his sister-in-law, Ann Velthouse  and many nieces and nephews.

Bill’s funeral will be held on Tuesday, November 24, 2015 from the Cierpial Memorial Funeral Home on 69 East St. in Chicopee Falls and 10:30 am, followed by a Liturgy of Christian Burial in the Basilica of St. Stanislaus at 11:30 am.  His burial with military honors will be at the MA Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Agawam at 1 pm. Calling hours are on Monday from 4 to 7 pm.  Memorial contributions may be made to St. Stanislaus School, 534 Front St., Chicopee, MA