Daniel Wisniewski SFC, USN, Ret. passed away at home on May 15, 2022. One of nine children to his immigrant parents, Daniel was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Inspired by his uncle who had been killed in action during World War II, and with two brothers already serving in the Navy, at the age of seventeen he enlisted in the U.S Navy.
His service in the Navy started with training at the Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes. From there he would sail around the world with assignments aboard the USS Coral Sea, participating in the European Occupation after World War II, the USS Ingraham (DD-694), sailing the Mediterranean and Suez Canal to arrive in Japan joining the aircraft carrier taskforce providing support to the United Nations forces in Korea during the war. It was after this assignment that he was sent to Kansas City for training and while stationed there, he was introduced to his future wife Patricia at a social gathering. He was then transferred to the USS Merapi providing support to Pacific facilities at Bikini Atoll, Kwajalein, Marshalls, Carolines, Midway Island, and Eniwetok as part of Operation Hardtack. After returning to the states, he was transferred to the USS Hancock, which undertook sea training off the coast of San Diego. It was during this time that he proposed to Patricia and they were married at a North Island Naval Air Station chapel in San Diego, CA. Just four months later Daniel left with the Hancock, sent to reinforce the 7th fleet in the waters off Southeast Asia. The USS Resourceful (AFDM-5) brought Daniel to the Ship Repair Facility at the U.S. Naval Base Subic Bay, Philippines where he was promoted to Chief. His next assignment was the USS Thomaston (LSD-28), an amphibious warfare ship that participated in operations and cruises including support of the Atlantic Fleet during the Cuban Missile Crisis. The USS Bexar was to be Daniel’s last ship but not before he had two tours of Vietnam aboard her and in 1965 she helped land supplies and men of the 7th Fleet Special Landing Force at Chu Lai. She then sailed north to participate in the largest amphibious operation since the Korean War.
Daniel finished his career where he started it, as a Company Commander at the Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes. He retired after twenty years with the Navy and over the course of his lengthy career, he earned the Korea Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, and many other awards, medals, commendations, and citations for his lengthy service with the U.S. Navy and to his country. Daniel then went on to work for U.S. Steel, TWA, BPU, manager of Indian Springs Shopping Center, and The School for the Blind before his final retirement.
Daniel is preceded in death by his wife of sixty-three years Patricia, daughter Catherine, grandson Kevin, and Daniel’s parents, Steven, Stella and stepfather Joe, sisters Virginia, Sally, Harriett, and brothers Gerald, Alvin, and Bobby. He is survived by sisters Mary and Carolyn, and his five children, Mary, Martin (Lisa), Cecelia, Bridgid, and Kathryn, grandchildren, Ronnie (Mary), Michael, Jennifer (Martin), Rachel (Cecelia), Andrew, Levii, (Bridgid) Jordan, Austin (Kathryn), and cherished great-grandchildren.
“It all counts on twenty.”
The family asks that you remember him in the Prayer for Eternal Rest.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Disabled American Veterans.
Visitation; 9:30-10:30 am, Monday, May 23, 2022, follwed by the Mass at 10:30, at St. Patrick Catholic Church., 1066 North 94th Street, Kansas City, KS 66112. The burial will follow with Navy Honors at 12:30 pm at the Leavenworth National Cemetery.