William Michael "Bill" Kernozek
August 16, 1930 ~ November 26, 2024
William Michael Kernozek, 94, of Lusby, MD, passed away peacefully at his home on November 26, 2024. Born on August 16, 1930, in Springfield, MA, he was the son of William and Mary Bohnak Kernozek of Groton, CT. William was the loving husband of his second wife, Ella Mae Pruitt Kernozek, whom he married on September 3, 2003, and who preceded him in death on December 6, 2020. William was also preceded in death by his first wife, Magaret Mahoney Kernozek, son Michael Kernozek, stepson, Selby Pruitt, stepdaughter, Debrah Ann Pruitt, and his brother, Frederick Kernozek. He is survived by his children, Deborah Anne Lamontagne and William Raymond Kernozek, stepchildren, William Pruitt, Frances (Connie) Putt, and Kelvin Pruitt, as well as five grandchildren, Danielle, Hannah Lynn, William Michael, Aubrianna, and Gregory, and numerous step-grandchildren.
Immediately after his birth, his family moved to Groton, CT, where the depression forced him out of school at the 5th grade to help the family survive. He took a job with Pfizer Pharmaceuticals at age 16, married Margaret Anne Mahoney, and purchased a home in Quaker Hill, CT, near the Thames River. They raised three children, Deborah Anne and twin boys, William Raymond and Michael Thomas. Pfizer was the only employment he would ever know. After rising in the ranks to foreman, William retired from Pfizer after 37 years of service while missing only six days. After retirement he moved to Lusby, MD on waterfront property and, after the passing of his first wife, he met and married Ella Mae Pruitt when he was 73. They enjoyed 17 years of a relaxed, loving marriage until Ella's passing in 2020. William spent his remaining days in his home with assistance from Ella's daughter, Connie, and son-in-law, Ed, whom he considered his close family and who supported him through the very end. He was a very strong individual and overcame a subdural hematoma, cataracts, and prostate cancer late in life, but succumbed recently to a hip fracture complicated by late-stage dementia.
William was completely self-taught, with his interests ranging from sailing, camping, hiking, home remodeling, fine furniture making, gardening, metal detecting, coin and arrowhead collecting, and card playing. He was also a singer/songwriter from a young age and favored mostly backwoods bluegrass music. He played multiple instruments and loved singing old country and bluegrass music at local nursing homes and other venues around Southern Maryland with the love of his life, Ella Mae. In his 80s and 90s he shied away from Seniors Citizen Centers because he thought those places were for old people. His gentle demeanor and happy smile will be greatly missed, and he will be loved forever.
The family will receive friends on Wednesday, December 4, 2024, from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM in the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, Leonardtown, MD, where a funeral service will be held at 10:00 AM in the funeral home chapel. Interment will follow at Charles Memorial Gardens, Leonardtown, MD.
Condolences may be made to the family at www.mgfh.com.
Arrangements provided by the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home and Cremation Services, P.A., Leonardtown, MD.
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You said it! He was so gentle and kind. As children living next to Bill he never hesitated to let us jump off his dock or use his boat ramp. I don’t believe he ever submitted a complaint to our parents. He always had a smile and a wave to give. He worked hard to maintain his home. Thank you for bringing him by to see us Ed when we were there in October.