Richard X. "Rich" Chabalowski, 86, of Mercer, loving husband, father, and grandfather, died Thursday, Aug. 23, 2007, at St. Joseph's Hospital in Marshfield, Wis., with his family by his side, following a brief illness. He was born July 11, 1921, in Chicago, son of the late Francis and Julia (Babinski) Chabalowski, attended Chicago schools, and graduated from Lane Tech High School in 1939. He then attended Wright Junior College in Chicago for one year. Rich enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1940, serving as a pilot during World War II, receiving, among numerous medals and citations, the Purple Heart Medal for wounds received in action at Hickam Field in Hawaii during the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor. He also flew in India and was honorably discharged from active duty in 1946. He then served in the U.S. Army Air Corps Reserve until 1950, when he was honorably discharged as a first lieutenent. Rich married the former Dorothy K. Szwajkowski on March 9, 1943, in Phoenix, AZ. Following his honorable discharge from the service, he returned to Chicago and worked as a salesman for General Foods, retiring after 30 years as sales manager in 1980. They resided in Menomonee Falls, Wis. for 25 years, prior to moving to Mercer in 1984. Dorothy preceded him in death on May 21, 2006. Rich was a very active and faithful member of St. Isaac Jogues Catholic Church in Mercer, where he served as chairman of the finance committee for over 20 years, was a trustee of the parish, served as an usher, and was a longstanding member of the Knights of Columbus. He was a life member of the Montclare-Leyden Veterans of Foreign Wars Post in Chicago, and was a member of the Hump Pilots Association and the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association. He was also an avid woodcarver. At Rich's request, he was an organ donor. Surviving are two sons, Dr. Robert, DDS (Lois), Menasha, Wis., and Dr. Cary, Ph.D (Molly), Alexandria, VA; five grandchildren, Alec (Anita) Chabalowski, Williamsburg, MI, Davis Chabalowski, Chicago, Jordan Chabalowski, Menasha, Megan Chabalowski, Miami, Fla., and Andrew Chabalowski, Alexandria, VA; a sister, Eleanor Heister, Santa Barbara, CA; brothers-and-sisters-in-law, Leona and Jack Burner, LeMont, ILL, Loretta Chabalowski, Chicago, and John Szwajkowski, North Lake, ILL; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. Besides his parents and wife, Rich was preceded in death by a brother, Arthur, and seven sisters, Marie Kieres, Frances Sierant, Ella Sokolnicki, Josephine Lincoln, Sophia Kaczmarek, Julia Kay, and Stella Chabalowski. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Monday, Aug. 27, at 11 a.m., at St. Isaac Jogues Catholic Church in Mercer, with the Rev. Michael Hayden, celebrant. Rite of Committal and interment will follow in the Mercer Cemetery, where military rites will be accorded by the Mercer-Manitowish Waters American Legion Post 424 and Mercer Area VFW Post 9536 Honor Guard. Luncheon will be served in the parish hall immediately upon return from the cemetery. Relatives and friends may call at the church beginning at 10 a.m. on Monday. Pallbearers will be Alec, Davis, Andrew, Megan, and Jordan Chabalowski, Bruce Teale, and Ray Alvey. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the American Heart Association. To view Rich's obituary online, sign the guestbook, and express condolences, visit mckevittpatrickfuneralhome.com. Engstrom Funeral Home, Hurley, is in charge of arrangements