Walter (Wally) Pokladek Jr., age 78, passed away peacefully on July 5, 2024. Beloved husband of Carol for almost 38 years. Dear brother of Shirley Garofalo. Loving father of Christopher, Timothy, and the late Michael. Brother-in-law of Linda Doerr, Robert (Jacqueline) Doerr. Cherished uncle of Debra (Michael) Rodriguez, Zachary, Cecilia and Alexander Doerr. Great childhood friend of Francis (Frank) VanDamme, Robert (Bob) Bennett and Vernon (Vern) Popowski.
Walter was born on January 8, 1946 at The Grace Hospital in Detroit, MI. He attended St. Veronica Parochial School (Class of 1959) followed by St. Anthony High School (Class of 1963). He was a proud graduate of the University of Detroit where he earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree (Magna Cum Laude) in Political Science on April 29, 1967.
Walter served in the United States military during the Vietnam War (Specialist E-5 Sergeant) as a Chief Clerk on base with the Army from November 27, 1967 to September 4, 1969, where he was stationed at Fort Jackson (Columbia, SC) after completing basic training in Fort Knox (Fort Knox, KY). He received the Army Commendation Medal for Meritorious Service. Walter officially retired from U.S. Customs where he worked as an Import Specialist in downtown Detroit, MI for 33 years and was awarded the Albert Gallatin Award from the U.S. Department of Treasury.
He enjoyed attending Broadway Theater, Movies at the cinema and Stage Productions, especially Shakespeare (Dramas and Musicals), Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO) concerts, and Friday Night Live at the Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA).
He was a devoted and loyal fan of the Detroit Tigers, Detroit Lions and Detroit Red Wings who also supported both the Michigan Wolverines football and Detroit Titan basketball teams. With Major League Baseball being his most passionate sport as a spectator, Wally had avid aspirations of attending professional baseball games, loved traveling to and hoped to see all 30 ballpark stadiums around the country (and Toronto, Ontario, Canada). He was very knowledgeable on statistics for various North American professional sports teams.
Walter was a member of the American Legion who frequently volunteered for Meals on Wheels and as an usher at Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church. Walter enjoyed participating in the hour and a half Huron Lady II Tour Cruises up north in Port Huron as well as riding the Bob-Lo Boat Steamships going to and from Bob-Lo Island (until permanent closure in 1993) and taking his family on annual vacation trips to Cedar Point Amusement Park (Sandusky, OH). He liked to spend time getting fresh air often going for casual walks on Belle Isle, the Detroit Riverfront and a variety of Metroparks in the state of Michigan. Walter also took pleasure in gardening and attended free musical concert events. Walter was often comforted by our pet cat Stripes. In his spare time, he enjoyed playing many board and card games, especially doing the New York Times crossword puzzles. After retirement, Wally enjoyed meeting for luncheons with former U.S. Customs coworkers and many cousins, friends, neighbors, relatives, etc.
Visitation for Walter will be on Friday, July 12, 2024 from 5 PM until 8 PM at A.H. Peters Funeral Home, 20705 Mack Ave, Grosse Pointe Woods, MI 48236. A funeral Mass will be on Saturday, July 13, 2024, at 10 AM, instate at 9:30 AM, at Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church, 467 Fairford Rd, Grosse Pointe Woods, MI 48236. Cremation will follow after Mass and Walter will be inurned at Great Lakes National Cemetery in Holly, MI.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the American Cancer Society or the Capuchin Soup Kitchen.
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