Adrian Matthew Lewandowski

Adrian Matthew Lewandowski

August 2, 1944 – December 26, 2023

Adrian Matthew Lewandowski, 79, sadly left us on December 26, 2023, following complications from a diabetic sugar low, a post-surgical respiratory infection, and a subsequent fall that resulted in a fatal brain hemorrhage.  He is survived by his wife, Patricia Lewandowski, his brother Chris Lewandowski, his three children: Adrian Jr. Lewandowski (Terri), Jeff Lewandowski (Mandy), and Tania Lewandowski (Ryan Foster), six grandchildren: Megan Johnston (Thomas Johnston), Justin Lewandowski (Ky Lewandowski), Cortney Spangler (Colton Spangler), Alyssa Wade (Austin Wade), Cash Lewandowski, and Cruz Lewandowski and seven great-grandchildren.

Adrian was born on August 2, 1944, in Detroit, Michigan to Matthew and Michalene Lewandowski.  His father was a lifelong General Motors Tool and Die Maker and his mother worked extensively in nursing homes which led to the inspiration and publishing of her book called The Human Island.  Her work with the elderly earned her the Key to the City of Warren, Michigan.  Early in life, Adrian aspired to be a Catholic priest, but those aspirations shifted as he sought to pursue a career in the Air Force.  He attended the University of Detroit while participating in the Air Force ROTC program in 1962 and graduated in 1966 to be a commissioned officer within the intelligence services.  He served as an attaché and fulfilled a variety of unique assignments.  He met his wife, Patricia through a Polish activities group shortly after graduating college and they were married in fall of 1969.

Almost a year after being married, they gave birth to their first child, Adrian Jr in 1970 while stationed at March Air Force Base in California.  Shortly after, Adrian was sent to Thailand as part of the Vietnam War where he served for several years.  Upon return from Thailand, they were stationed at Fort Belvoir Army base in Virginia.  While there, they had their second son, Jeff in 1974.  As is the way within the armed forces, their time in Virginia was short and they were restationed to Wurtsmith Air Force Base in Michigan.  It was there that they had their last child, Tania in 1978.

Following the several year stint at Wurtsmith, they were restationed to Scott Air Force base in Illinois.  While there, Adrian pursued and completed a masters degree in psychology from the University of Illinois.  After two years in Illinois, the family was transferred to Grand Forks Air Force Base in North Dakota where they spent nearly four years before again being restationed to the Strategic Air Command (SAC) base in Bellevue Nebraska.  It was at SAC where Adrian decided to retire from the Air Force after 21 years of service.

Shortly after retiring from the Air Force, Adrian put his master’s degree to work at Metropolitan College in Elkhorn Nebraska where he served students for 17 years as an academic counselor.  During his time in Nebraska his hobbies included putting together model airplanes, reading about Polish history and he was also very involved with a vegetable garden they had planted in the backyard.

Above all, Adrian wished to be remembered as a Polish Catholic who served his country as an intelligence officer in the Air Force.

Adrian was preceded in death by his mother and father, grandparents, several aunts and uncles, and a great grandchild.

MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL: Thursday, January 4, 2024, at 11am at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church, 15353 Pacific.  Graveside Service: Thursday, 2:30pm at Omaha National Cemetery with Military Honors.  In lieu of flowers, memorials will be directed by the family.

To view a live broadcast of the Mass, please visit www.heafeyheafey.com and click the “Live Cast” button at the top of the home page.