Edwin J. Buczak, 87, of Wildwood Ave., died Wednesday, May 30, peacefully, in his sleep, at his summer residence on Welch Island, Lake Winnipesaukee, N.H. His wife of 62 years, Ruth M. (McNeil) Buczak, died in 2005.

He leaves a son, Edwin D. Buczak of Worcester; two daughters, Paula J. Olson of Sturbridge and Diane R. Donohue of Auburn; 7 grandchildren; his very close friends, "The Girards", whom he thought of as family and his companion, Marge Herlin of Laconia, N.H.

Mr. Buczak was born on Feb. 22, 1920 in Lowell, MA, son of Joseph and Catherine (Koziol) Buczak. He grew up in Franklin, N.H. and moved to Rochdale, MA in 1937. He graduated from Leicester High School in 1938 and attended post graduate classes at Worcester Boys Trade. He worked for Worcester Pressed Steel, Mathews Engineering and Parker Metal before starting his own business, Steel Products Corp. in Leicester, a specialty plastic coating firm in 1968. In 1990 the business was incorporated for the benefit of his family. In 1941 at the outbreak of WWII, Edwin joined the United States Navy, already being a licensed pilot. He served as a full lieutenant in the Navy Air Corp. VRF-1 squadron in Panama, Costa Rica and the Pacific theater. He was awarded the distinguished flying cross for a hazardous mission flying a much needed component in foul weather to a U.S. Navy sub that was disabled. Edwin's true loves in life, were to take care of his family and his lifetime career of military and civil aviation, spanning the age of 17 to 87. He designed and built his own one of a kind experimental aircraft which he flew with great success for 23 years. He enjoyed going fishing with his son on Lake Winnipesaukee or any remote brook, sharing a lunch and some fishing "lies".

The Buczak family wishes to thank Dr. William Walsh, Dr. Michael Wollin and two outstanding hospice nurses, Paulette and Carrie for all of the loving care given to Edwin.

The funeral will be held Tuesday, June 5 from MORIN-MORRISON FUNERAL HOME, 1131 Main St., Leicester, with a Mass at 10:00 AM in St. Pius X Church, 1153 Main St., Leicester. Burial will be in Worcester County Memorial Park, Paxton, with Military Honors. Calling hours are Monday 5:00-7:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to UMass Memorial Hospice, 650 Lincoln St., Worcester, MA 01605.