Paul Peter Konopacki

Paul Peter Konopacki, 55, a resident of Arlington Heights, IL, passed away peacefully with his wife and children by his side, on December 21, 2021, due to complications of pancreatic cancer. He was born in Chicago, IL on June 27, 1966, to Chester and Lucy (nee Jablonski) Konopacki and attended St. Daniel the Prophet school in Chicago and St. Laurence High School in Burbank, IL before receiving his bachelor’s degree in engineering from the University of Wisconsin – Madison.

His career included nearly 25 years of service with the Quaker Oats Company and PepsiCo, where he held various positions of increasing responsibility in Corporate and R&D Engineering. He delivered many new products and innovations to the market, and he was always helping others grow not only as engineers, but as kind, caring, people. He was an incredible role model who inspired others through his passion, knowledge, and dedication.

Paul was a devoted family man and was actively involved in his children’s school activities. Besides cheering them on in their fine arts and athletic endeavors, he also was a Science Olympiad team coach during middle school and lent his talents to the set construction crews of many musicals and plays, culminating with building the car for “Chitty, Chitty, Bang, Bang” entirely on his own. During their high school years, he was proudly part of the Knightshift crew supporting the Prospect Marching Knights.

His community and neighborhood benefitted from Paul’s dedication as well. Having formerly played the trumpet in high school, Paul took up the euphonium later in life and was a member of the Arlington Heights Community Band for several years. He also led the effort to beautify our neighborhood for many years by coordinating tree and bed planting, etc. with our local park district.

Paul most enjoyed spending time with his extensive family for birthdays, holidays, and summer vacations, on the farm, and at reunions. When at home, he could most often be found working around the house and particularly in his vegetable garden. He loved to share the abundance of vegetables he grew with family and friends.

Paul is survived by his wife of 27 years, Joan (nee Cavaliere) Konopacki, and their children Elizabeth Mary Konopacki and Timothy Paul Konopacki; his parents, Chester and Stella Konopacki; his siblings Anthony Konopacki, Theresa (Tom) Short, Stanley (Laurel) Konopacki, Joe (Eileen) Konopacki, Ted (Alexandra) Konopacki, and Peter (Selena) Konopacki, along with many nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts, and uncles. He was preceded in death by his sister Christine (Joseph) Gratzke and his mother Lucy.

Relatives and friends are invited to visitation on Tuesday, December 28, at Glueckert Funeral Home, 1520 N. Arlington Heights Rd., Arlington Heights, Il. from 3:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. and to his Mass of Christian Burial on Wednesday, December 29, at 11:00 a.m. at Our Lady of the Wayside Catholic Church, 434 W. Park St., Arlington Heights, Il. A graveside service will follow at St. Adalbert’s Catholic Cemetery, Chicago, Il. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (pancan.org) are welcome. Online messages of sympathy and remembrances may be left at glueckertfuneralhome.com. A celebration of life is planned for next summer.