Gerald A. Chrusciel, 84, beloved husband of Alice Anderson Chrusciel since 1954, and United States Army veteran, of Newtown, died suddenly November 7. Born in Springfield, Mass., a son of the late Helen (Anderson) and Matthew Chrusciel, he was raised in Indian Orchard and Ludlow, Mass.

He was a former communicant of Christ the King Church in Ludlow, and a 1946 graduate of Springfield Technical High School.

Mr Chrusciel enlisted in the US Army in June 1947, at age 17, and served in Germany. He was honorably discharged in May 1950, with the rank of corporal. He enrolled at the University of Massachusetts, in Amherst, but was recalled to the Army, serving in the Army Counter Intelligence Corps Detachment of the Second Armored Division, stationed in Hawaii, and was honorably discharged with the rank of sergeant first class in May of 1953.

He received his bachelor of business administration, summa cum laude, from the University of Massachusetts in 1955, and was a member of several honor societies and campus organizations. He earned an MBA in finance at Harvard Business School, graduating in 1957.

Mr Chrusciel began his business career in 1957 at the Corning Glass Works in Corning, N.Y., as a staff operations analyst. In 1963 he went to work in the manufacturing division of  Chesebrough Ponds (later acquired by Unilever), in Clinton, Conn. He held various positions at Chesebrough, moving eventually to plant manager at Faichney Instrument Corp in Watertown, N.Y. He was named vice president of manufacturing of the packaged foods division in Rochester, N.Y., in 1972. He retired in 1991, and was inducted into the Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels for his outstanding service to the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

Mr Chrusciel was always an avid reader and history buff. In his retirement he enjoyed those hobbies, and spending time with his beloved wife, his three daughters, and his six cherished grandchildren. He could often be found fishing with one of the boys, talking football, or eating out with one or more of his girls.

He leaves his cherished wife. He was a loving father, as well, to his daughters and their husbands, Kathleen Chrusciel-Desrosiers and Albert Desrosiers of Newtown, Judy Chrusciel and James Bauer of Cumberland, R.I., and Alice Chrusciel-Allen and Fred Allen of Plymouth, Mass. He was a much loved and admired grandfather to Jennifer and Sarah Desrosiers, Andrew and Jack Bauer, and Kelly and Patrick Allen; and brother to Elizabeth Haluch of Ludlow. Many loving extended family members, dear friends, and former colleagues also survive Mr Chrusciel.

He was a communicant of St Mary Parish in Bethel, but funeral services will take place Wednesday, November 12, at 9 am, from Ludlow Funeral Home in Ludlow, with Liturgy of Christian Burial at 10 am, in Christ the King Church, 15 Warsaw Avenue, Ludlow, followed by burial in Island Pond Cemetery, Center Street, Ludlow. Visiting hours are Tuesday, November 11, from 5 to 8 pm, at the funeral home.

For online condolences visit www.ludlowfuneralhome.com.