CHESTER BURLENSKI JR.

Chester, or Bob as family and friends knew him, grew up in Blaine. He was accidentally named Chester at birth due to his father’s misunderstanding of the question regarding his son’s name. Since his mother wanted him named Robert, Bob, that’s what family and friends knew him as throughout his life.

Chet worked on a dairy farm for family, ultimately becoming a milk truck driver. After graduating from Bridgeport High School, he joined the United States Marine Corps and proudly served from 1956 through 1959. After returning home from the Marine Corps, he married his first wife, Edith, Edie, Romel in December 1959. He was once again a milkman. He later took a job as a concrete truck driver for Delta Concrete, and along with three others, drove a mixer supplying the concrete for the Wheeling Tunnels. When construction of the tunnels neared completion, he decided to join the Ohio State Highway Patrol. He graduated from the 67th Class of the Patrol Academy in June 1965. He was stationed at the Athens Post until 1972 when he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and transferred to the Portsmouth Post. Due to family issues back in Belmont County, he transferred to the St. Clairsville Post in 1973 where he remained until his retirement in January 1990. Chet was proud to have serviced on the Ohio State Highway Patrol. He kept busy throughout his retirement years, working for KCCI (the Krulock Family), helping his sons with projects and helping at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Lafferty. He also became President of the Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Lafferty and served in that capacity until 2020. He took great pride in making sure the Cemetery was well maintained.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by an infant daughter, Lynette, his first wife Edith in September 1978, second wife Alberta (Hudimac) Burlenski in March 2018, brother David in 2022 and brother Richard in 2023.

He is survived by his two sons, Bob (Tammy) Burlenski of Adena and Ed Burlenski of St. Clairsville. He is also survived by granddaughters, Monica (Christin Arraujo) Mann, Mara (Diane Kreptowski) Bowman, great granddaughter Alyssa (Corbin) Hartory, sister Geraldine (Ron) Zambori, brother Dennis (Donna) Burlenski, sister in law Donna Burlenski and numerous nieces and nephews. He is also survived by his dog, Trooper, and several great granddogs.

The family would like to express our most sincere thank you to the staff at Forest Hill, Jordan, Jaime, Dee, Robin, Joyce, Leona, Shannon, Amber, Taryn, Destiny, Haley, Alicia, Natasha, Missy, Maria, Linda, Lisa, Abbey, the Administrative Staff, and Physical Therapy Staff, especially Farrah. We would also like to express our thanks to the Kitchen Staff, Custodial Staff, Maintenance Staff and Laundry Staff that contributed to the great care Chester received at Forest Hills.

The family would also like to express our most sincere gratitude and thank you to the Ohio State Highway Patrol for providing pall bearers, escorts and support to the family. A special thank you to Dispatcher Traci Arno Jaskowiak and Sergeant Scott Moore for their assistance.

Family and Friends will be received on Friday, November 8, from 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm at the Wilson Funeral Home, 920 National Road, Bridgeport, Ohio 43912. A mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 68210 Neola Ave., Bridgeport, Ohio 43912 on Saturday, November 9 at 10:00 am with Father John Mucha officiating. Interment will be at the Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Lafferty, Ohio immediately following the funeral mass. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Gate of Heaven Cemetery, PO Box 72, Lafferty, Ohio 43951.