Walter J. Kruczek, 92, of West Springfield, passed away Friday, March 20, 2026, surrounded by his loving family. Born July 23, 1933, in Chicopee, he was the son of the late Jacob and Katherine (Bielecka) Kruczek. Walter attended Western New England College and graduated with a BS in Mechanical Engineering. He worked for Hamilton Standard for over 30 years, where he was Supervisor of Manufacturing Engineering in Space and Sea Systems. He had responsibilities for manufacturing engineering for the Apollo, Shuttle, and Space Station programs. He was a recipient of NASA’s Silver Snoopy Award for outstanding contributions. Walter was a communicant of St Thomas Church, West Springfield, and a US Army veteran during the Korean War. Walter was preceded in death by his son-in-law, Joseph Vignaly Jr., his brother Thaddeus (Anna) Kruczek, and sister Jane (Walter) Oleskiewicz. He is survived by his beloved wife, Vivian (Marcinek) Kruczek. Their 70 years of dedicated marriage stands as an example of timeless love to all. He was a devoted father to his children, Michael (Allison) Kruczek of Beaver, PA, and Katherine Vignaly of Stratham, NH. Walter was lovingly known as Dziadziu by his grandchildren, Jonathan (Tracey), Lauren, Christopher (Aimee), Nicholas, Katherine (Diego), Ellen (Lane), Benjamin (Jennifer), and Joshua, and his great-grandchildren, Jay, Isaac, Simon, Leo, and Gabriel. For the past 35 years as Dziadziu, gatherings in West Springfield and on Martha’s Vineyard created cherished lifelong memories. Walter is remembered fondly for his wit and industrious nature, and for his loving devotion to his wife and family. Walter’s funeral mass will be Saturday, March 28, 2026, at 9AM at St Thomas the Apostle Church, 47 Pine St West Springfield with burial to follow at St Stanislaus Cemetery in Chicopee. A calling hour will be from 7:30-8:30AM at Toomey-O’Brien Funeral Home 1043 Westfield St West Springfield. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to St Thomas Church, 47 Pine St West Springfield.