Norbert H. Polanski (Major Retired), died on Tuesday, May 9, 2009, at Aurora Medical Center.  Born on March 10, 1924 in Kenosha, he was the son of the late Ignatz and Mary (Sherfinski) Polanski.  He was a graduate of Kenosha High School and later Carroll College before being recalled into the U.S. Air Force for the Korean Conflict.

Norbert honorably served his county in the U.S. Air Force for 26 years.  He had been stationed in Germany, England, France and Libya.  In 1944, he received his commission as 2nd Lieutenant after completion of Aviation Cadet Training.  During WWII, Norbert served in the European Theater of Operations as a P47 Fighter Pilot completing 59 combat missions with 177 combat hours in one year.  He proudly received the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Two Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters, as well as numerous other awards and decorations.  He ended his military career by flying a Starlifter back and forth to Vietnam.

In 1951, Norbert was united in marriage to Betty Jean Downs.  That marriage was later dissolved. In 1991, at St. John's Lutheran Church he was united in married to Charlene Fay Carlsen.

Following his military retirement from the U.S. Air Force, Norbert was employed by Kenosha County in the Probation/Parole Department.

He was a member of St. Elizabeth Catholic Church, a life member of the V.F.W. Post #1865, the American Legion Post 21 and the P.L.A.V. Post #34.  He also belonged to the Kenosha Moose Lodge #286, as well as being a proud member of The P47 Pilot Association and The 412th Squadron.

Norbert is survived by:  his wife, Charlene  Polanski of Kenosha; a daughter, Karen Flynn of Mesa, AZ and her two children, Justin Christopher and Dustin Michael Flynn; five great-grandchildren:   Veronica, Ethan, Frankee, Dustin II and Ryan Flynn; two step-children, Robert Fay of Kenosha and Barbara McDonald of Racine; and two step-grandchildren.

Along with his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Joe and Ed, and three sisters, Bernice, Edith and Joyce.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Monday, June 1, 2009 at 11:00AM at St. Elizabeth Catholic Church.  Inurnment was in Southern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery.  A visitation for Norbert was held on Monday, from 10:00AM until the time of the Mass at the church.  Memorial remembrances to St. Elizabeth Catholic Church or St. John's Lutheran Church would be appreciated by the family.