Alfred Joseph Karcheski,        Former Selectman, Civic Leader Dies

Alfred Joseph Karcheski, Sr, of Bethel, died at home on July 26 after a long illness. Born in Newtown on July 14, 1921, he was the youngest son of Dorothy (Woiciechowski) Karcheski and William Karcheski.

 A longtime resident of Newtown, Mr Karcheski was active in the community fire department, served as a Newtown Special Constable (1958–1969), an elected member of the Newtown Board of Selectmen (1960–1966), and a member of the Newtown Police Commission (1970–1976).

He was a school bus owner/operator of bus Number 8 for the Newtown schools. He and his wife, Laura, owned and operated a Texaco garage known as South Main Texaco, having been established as Al’s Service Station in the late 1940s.

He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Laura Knapp Karcheski; their daughter, Gail Karcheski Schultz, and husband, Harold V. Schultz, of Bethel; a son, Alfred J. Karcheski, Jr, and his wife, Debra M. Karcheski, of Ronks, Penn.; and three grandchildren, Christopher H. Schultz, of Bethel, Gretchen H. Karcheski, of Lancaster, Penn., and Jason M. Karcheski and his wife, Leahn Agnew Karcheski, of Lititz, Penn.; and two brothers, Stanley Karcheski of Brookfield and Bernard Karcheski of Danbury; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his sisters, Sally Wallace, Stella Wooden, and Sophie Loukaitis; and brothers, Michael and William Karcheski.

There will be no calling hours. A memorial service will be held at Sacred Heart Church, Cottage Street, Danbury, on Saturday, August 6, at 11 am. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Bethel Visiting Nurse Association, 1 School Street, Bethel CT 06801.

Interment will take place following the memorial service.

The Newtown Bee        August 5, 2005