Jacek Kudlacz

Jacek Kudlacz (54) passed away peacefully on August 9th, 2023, holding the hand of his wife Minda Basilio Felicitas in their family home where they brought up their three daughters: Rachel, Hannah, and Sarah.

Born on December 20th, 1968 to Janina and Edward, Jacek was brought up along the coast of the Baltic sea in Elblag, Poland alongside his older brothers, Meric and Zbigniew.

As a boy, he was a silent but strong force to be reckoned with as he dominated club soccer teams across Poland as a nimble striker. His clever wit and powerful kick carried through with him long into his adulthood in America as a member of the Washington State Adult Soccer Association and the Greater Seattle Soccer League, playing indoor and outdoor soccer for intramural teams at Arena Sports and for the Polish Home Association. Those who knew him said he was like a bolt of lightning on the field, and this led him to receive the title of Best Striker in Washington state for the 40+ Mens’ Soccer League before he was forced to retire due to injury. Nevertheless, his passion for soccer never wavered as he spent countless hours cheering on Lionel Messi scoring wins for FC Barcelona.

As a student studying agriculture, Jacek was able to leave Poland for the first time to pick apples in Hungary and this trip sparked a desire to learn and explore as much of the world as he could. He fled Poland for Sweden, was sent back, and then bussed to Greece where he won a VISA to the United States of America. From there Jacek traveled and sent letters to people from all around the world. Through these letters, he became penpals with Minda and they wrote to each other for two years before they married in the Philippines. Jacek treasured the beauty of the world and joy that came from making memories together with the family he created with his wife. All of which he captured through photography of their international travels from Switzerland to Italy, Spain, England, France, Canada, to the local charm of Washington, Oregon, California, New York, Florida, and Hawaii. His curiosity for the world was vast like the ocean, the sea isn’t large enough to contain the admiration he held for the awe and wonder of God’s creation.

Jacek’s nose was always deep between the pages of books; his appetite for literature supplemented his ability to wear many hats. He built his own library of knowledge around photography, travel, history, business, home renovation, and the stock market. All of which served him well in his role as an Inventory Manager at Sensitech, as a business owner of Valley Vista Adult Family Home and in his side hustles of managing stocks, flipping homes, and hosting for Airbnb. Jacek was good with numbers and had a good eye for seeing the potential of everyone he encountered. He used his strengths to build others up and was always open to volunteering his time and wisdom to help those he cherished. With his family, he loved to learn about the passions they had, and would always offer the resources and encouragement for them to pursue what brought them joy. In the last year of his life, Jacek dedicated his time to educating himself on the needs of children and their families in the Philippines. He saw the potential for parents to create a livelihood for themselves through vlogging on YouTube so that they could earn their way while spending time with their children. With this vision, he collaborated with Kairos Family Mission to find families and provided cameras and filming equipment to be sent to them. He had a quiet, secure heart which showcased his humility, grace, and compassion for others.

Whether or not music was present, Jacek always saw the opportunity to dance a little tango or cha cha slide around the house. Whenever people were gathered around together for a meal, you could see Jacek sporting a wide grin on his face as the group shared good food and great company together. If a Wii remote was in his hand, he likely was competitively racing his daughters in Mario Kart or sprinting through tracks against his brother Zibi in Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games. During nightfall he would gather everyone around to watch movies over a large snack spread, play glow-in-the-dark badminton, or host mini eurodisco parties every New Years. When Kailo the mini australian shepherd was brought into the family, he always tagged along behind Jacek wherever he would go. Taking family walks to Marymoor’s dog park and playing with Kailo in the yard became another way Jacek enjoyed spending quality time with his family. He had a special gift of making everyone laugh in any situation: from his witty jokes, exaggerated opera singing, silly character impressions, or expressive body language.

Jacek’s humor, humility, affection, and appreciation for life - this is his legacy that remains in those who knew him well and cherished him deeply. When his time came, he carried himself with dignity, strength, and full of love for those he left behind. Dearest Jacek, your light continues to shine in the depths of our hearts. Until we all reunite again in the gardens of our Heavenly Father.

With love that knows no end,

The Kudlacz Family

The Funeral Service is on August 23rd at 1:00pm. In honor of Jacek's spirit, we request attendees to wear white.