Longtime Kenai resident, Mr. Timothy John Wisniewski, 72, died Wednesday, July 27th, 2022, at home with his family by his side.
A public memorial Mass will be held 2:00 p.m., Saturday, August 27th, 2022, at Our Lady of The Angels Catholic Church -225 South Spruce Street – Kenai. Father Patrick Brosamer will be officiating. Following the Mass, a Celebration of Tim’s life will be held at 4:00 p.m. serving pizza and lemon bars, which Tim specifically requested at his reception. It will be held at Peninsula Memorial Chapel – 5839 Kenai Spur Hwy – Kenai, Alaska. A slideshow will be shown as well as a time for people to share stories or memories about Tim.
If you are not able to attend the service, please send the family a short story or memory of Tim to the funeral home – 5839 Kenai Spur Hwy – Kenai, Alaska 99611.
Tim was born Nov. 28, 1949, in Toledo, Ohio to Irv and Gertrude Wisniewski. He was the 2nd oldest of 9 siblings. He grew up working with his siblings at Lewis Potato chip factory which his parents owned. He attended Hedwigs Elementary and St. Pius Middle School. He was a 1967 graduate of Central Catholic High School in Toledo, Ohio.
He furthered his education by graduating from Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science, becoming a licensed embalmer and funeral director. Tim was a 3rd generation funeral director, following the footsteps of his mother and grandfather. Growing up in their early teens, Tim and his brother Tom worked for their grandfather at Urbanski Funeral Home. After working for his grandfather, it was clear Tim had a different vision and dreamed of starting his own funeral home. Tim’s desire for a fresh start led to him applying for jobs all over the state of Alaska. In 1976 Tim and his brother Tom drove a 1966 Cadillac Hearse (which he still uses today) from Ohio to Kenai, Alaska to embark on what would be his greatest adventure yet.
After working a few years for the local mortuary, Tim opened Peninsula Memorial Chapel in 1978. After several years of operating his business in Old Town Kenai, Tim built his funeral home on the Kenai Spur Hwy that is in operation today. Along with running his funeral home he started Tim’s Janitorial a few years later. He met his wife, Terri Dillingham in 1980 and married a year later at Our Lady of The Angels Catholic Church. In 1982 their first child Lacey was born, soon after came Grant, Hailey, and Justin. Tim wanting to better serve the people of Alaska, eventually opened funeral homes in Homer, Seward, Anchorage, Fairbanks, Wasilla, and Palmer. In addition to his professional career, Tim was deeply dedicated to serving his community of Kenai which was evident through his many organization memberships and awards.
In his leisure time he loved golfing, playing trumpet, collecting classic cars and spending time with his family and friends at his family cabin. He loved entertaining; often he would be at the head of the dinner table, cracking jokes to a captive audience. Tim will be remembered for his steadfast commitment to his faith and a generous servant to his community.
He was preceded in death by his parents, sister, Mary Ellen Wisniewski and brothers, Christopher, and Tom Wisniewski.
He is survived by his wife of 42 years, Terri Wisniewski of Kenai, daughters, Lacey (Zack) Rininger and their kids, Elliet, Henry, Sage and Eero all of KENAI and Hailey (Cody) Hyce and their Kids Jackson, Holland and Piper all of Wasilla; Sons, Grant (Amanda) Wisniewski and their kids - Grayson, Emma, Hayden, Oliver, Penner and Oaklin all of Kenai and Justin (Alyssa) Wisniewski and their kids, Arlo and Otis of Oregon; brothers, Ned (Ellen) Wisniewski of Ohio and their kids Max and Mitchell and Phil (Nicole) Wisniewski and their kids - Spencer, Elliot and Olivia all of Michigan, sisters, Carol Wisniewski of Ohio, Jane Hearon of Ohio and her kids, RJ and Jack Hearon, June (Steve) Obertacz and their kids Jaimie Pavley and Ben Obertacz of Ohio, sister-in-law, Karen Wisniewski and her kids Kristy Hayes, Nicole Pickett, Dana Terese and Alex Wisniewski.