Thomas A. “Tom” Kwasny
Thomas A. “Tom” Kwasny, 86, born December 17, 1936, in Detroit, MI and has been a resident of Paris, KY for the past 25 years. He was preceded in death by his wife, Hannah Lee Kwasny and his son, Michael Allen. He was a member of the Catholic Church of the Annunciation and an active supporter of St. Mary’s School and Lexington Catholic High School.
He is survived by daughters, Lee Anne Kwasny and Dr. Christine (Jim) Akers both of Paris and his daughter, Kathleen Casey of Lexington, Kentucky; grandchildren, Elizabeth (Tylor) Buckles, Caroline Akers, Stephen Thomas Casey, Hannah Thereukauf, Christopher Kwasny, Zachary Kwasny and great grandson, Thomas James Buckles. He was preceded in death by a granddaughter, Stephanie Kwasny.
Tom served in the United States Army at the end of the Korean conflict, stationed at Fort Lee, Virginia, assigned to Special Services and honorably discharged as a First Lt. in the Quartermaster Corp. He achieved the rank of Captain in the Reserves after active duty.
During his early years, he was an All-American Swimmer in both high school and college, achieving honors as State Champion for three years in Michigan during high school and at Michigan State University, where he was a Big 10 champion as well as being named a National Collegiate All-American. Recently inducted into the Michigan High School Hall of Fame. During his high school years, he held the national record for a period of time in the 100-yard butterfly. He was also Second Army Champion in that event.
A graduate of Michigan State University with a degree in business and Harvard Business School’s food distribution case study program, Mr. Kwasny had a 45-year career in the retail/wholesale food industry, rising from a supermarket carry out, to President of Supervalu’s Mid-Atlantic Region, servicing independent supermarket grocers in Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, and Washington D.C. During his career, he served as a Division President in a variety of Markets across the United States including, West Virginia, Ohio, Kansas City, St. Louis, Pittsburgh, and Philadelphia, as well as Regional President overseeing Pittsburgh and West Virginia operations. He served on a variety of organizations related to the food industry, including the National Food Marketing Institute’s Independent Operators Committee, state boards of both Wholesale and Retail Grocers Associations in all the markets he operated in.
Tom retired at age 60, moving to The Grand Harbor in Vero Beach, Florida and did consulting for the Independent Grocers Alliance, IGA out of Chicago, in that capacity, he dealt with special assignments and problem solving with both Retail Independent Grocers and Wholesale Distribution Centers across the United States. After a few years in Florida, he moved to Paris, Kentucky to be close to his daughter, Dr. Akers and family and devoted his life to being caregiver to his daughter Lee Anne with the help of his daughter, Christine.
As a father of a special needs child, Mr. Kwasny was active in ARC groups and sheltered workshops for special needs individuals in many areas of the country and was President of the West Virginia ARC for a number of years. His daughter Lee Anne is an active member of the Joseph Allen Adult Day Program.
Finally, a special note of appreciation to Dr. Roger Fleischman of the Markey Cancer Center; Dr. Kelly Waespe, Cardiologist and Dr. Patty Swiney, who picked up all the pieces.
Tom was a “dog lover” all his life and in recent years had three special companion dogs…Tassie, Hannah and Josie….all very special to him. Josie…a White English Labrador, was a very special dog, at his side until she suddenly passed away.
Funeral Mass will be conducted at 11:00 AM Tuesday October 24, 2023, at the Catholic Church of the Annunciation, 1007 Main St., Paris, KY by Father Danny Fister. Military honors will precede the funeral Mass, conducted by soldiers in the United States Army. There will be a private family burial in the Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens, Huntington, WV at a later date.
Family and friends are welcome to gather at the church from 10:00 AM until the time of the Mass on Tuesday October 24, 2023.
Memorials may take the form of contributions to the Joseph Allen Center at Bourbon Heights, PAWS Animal Shelter or the Annunciation Parrish.
The funeral arrangements were entrusted to the Lusk-McFarland Funeral Home, 1120 Main St., Paris, KY.
The online guestbook is at www.Lusk-McFarland.com and a 24-hour funeral information line can be reached by calling 859-987-4387.
