[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 121 (Wednesday, July 1, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E610]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             HONORING THE LIFE OF MR. STANLEY BALZEKAS, JR.

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DANIEL LIPINSKI

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 1, 2020

  Mr. LIPINSKI. Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate and 
commemorate the life of Mr. Stanley Balzekas Jr., who passed away on 
June 18 at the age of 95 . Stanley Balzekas was an American war hero, a 
tireless supporter of Lithuania and Lithuanian culture, and a pillar of 
Chicago's Southwest Side.
  Mr. Balzekas was an American patriot, having proudly served in the 
United States Army during World War II. He landed in Normandy and 
bravely fought in the Battle of the Hurtgen Forest, one of the longest 
and fiercest battles in Europe. He was eventually captured by the Nazis 
and spent the rest of the war as a POW. For heroically risking his life 
to rescue twelve wounded soldiers, Mr. Balzekas was awarded the Bronze 
Star as well as the Purple Heart.
  Returning from the war, Stanley Balzekas earned his B.S. and M.S. 
degrees from DePaul University and then took the reins of his family's 
car dealership, Balzekas Motor Sales, on Archer Avenue in Chicago. But 
Mr. Balzekas' passion was preserving and spreading Lithuanian history 
and culture. In 1966, Stanley Balzekas founded the Balzekas Museum of 
Lithuanian Culture in Chicago. Through his dedicated leadership, the 
museum grew to become the largest repository of Lithuanian cultural 
artifacts outside of Lithuania. Mr. Balzekas's tireless work enhanced 
America's understanding of Lithuanian history and enriched the culture 
of the Chicagoland community.
  I extend my heartfelt condolences to Mr. Balzekas's family. Mr. 
Balzekas was the husband of the late Irene and is survived by his 
loving children Stanley III, Robert, Carol, and six grandchildren 
Irena, Stanley IV, Matthew, Margaret, Lucas, and Eva.
  Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the life of 
Mr. Stanley Balzekas, Jr. His contributions to our country, Lithuania 
and Lithuanian culture, and the Southwest Side of Chicago will not be 
forgotten. He will be remembered as a great man.

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