Daniel Katulka

Daniel Katulka, 92, died peacefully on Wednesday, July 20, 2016 at Baystate Medical Center. Born in Plains, PA to the late Theodore and Josephine (Lenio) Katulka, he was raised in PA and has been a resident of this area since 1953. He was a proud Veteran of World War II who served in the Asiatic-Pacific theatre as a Tank Commander. After his Military Service, he played professional baseball as a pitcher in the Philadelphia Phillies farm system. He later moved to Springfield, MA and worked in the Aerospace Division of Hamilton Standard, retiring after 36 years as a General Foreman. In addition to his passion for baseball, he was an avid golfer and loved fishing and gardening. A faithful communicant of St. Cecilia Church, he enjoyed traveling and trips to the casino with his best friends Tommy and Art. Daniel was predeceased by his wife Margaret (Higgins) Katulka in 1999. He will be sadly missed by his three daughters; Jan Konovalov of St. Lucie West, FL, Mara Naglieri and her husband James of East Longmeadow and Coleen Boyer and her husband Michael of Wilbraham, eight grandchildren; Hilarie Crooks, Cory Romboletti, Megan Tobins, Eric and Nicholas Naglieri, Michael, Jr., Brittany and Andrea Boyer, nine great grandchildren; Madelynne, Olivia, Sophia, Stella, Payton, Mason, Max, Riley and Cooper, and many nieces and nephews. Daniel�s Funeral Mass will be Monday at 11:30am at St. Cecilia Church, 42 Main St., Wilbraham. Visitation will precede the Mass from 9:30 � 11am at Wilbraham Funeral Home, 2551 Boston Rd., Wilbraham. Burial will follow the Mass in Gate of Heaven Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Disabled American Veterans, VA Regional Office, Rm 1575B, JFK Federal Building., Government Center, Boston, MA 02203 or online at www.DAV.org .