Chester George Rienhold Czepyha, Sr, 96, passed away peacefully at home June 13, 2024.   Born Sept 14, 1927 to Ellis Island immigrants from what is now Ukraine, Alexander Czepyha and Helen (Katarinchuk) Czepyha in New Brunswick, NJ.

Chester was predeceased by his wife of 69 years, Claire Helen (Kronemeyer) Czepyha, who died in 2019 and grandson Roman Czepyha who died in 2021.

Chester attended Rutgers Preparatory School in New Brunswick before attending and graduating from Lehigh University with a Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering.  Upon his graduation he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Air Force, and married Claire on September 9, 1950.

Chester was immediately sent to Korea, where he was a bombardier navigator and flew over 50 combat missions over enemy territory, and many more night reconnaissance photography missions.  Chester's 30 -year career moved the family throughout Florida, Oklahoma, Ohio, Massachusetts, California and the Philippines.  Notably, while stationed at Patrick AFB Chester was temporarily part of a crew of a missile support aircraft at Cape Canaveral which recovered the first ICBM nose cone. Later in his career, he performed tests with weather balloons conducted for atmospheric research.  Most of Chester's career was in research.  He was involved in the Korean Conflict and the Vietnam War.

Chester was in Oklahoma State University's master's program in meteorology from 1960 to 1962.

Chester was a devoted husband and father of 5 children.  In the summers when he was temporarily stationed in Chico, California to conduct weather balloon testing, he drove cross-country with the whole family and visit National Parks along the way.  He was also a very active boy scout leader:  each of his sons achieved eagle scout!

Chester retired from the Air Force in 1979, as a Colonel where he was the Director of Air Force Geophysics Laboratory at Hanscom AFB.

After Chester's retirement, he and Claire continued to live in Merrimack NH until they decided to join the Peace Corps, and were jointly assigned to Belize to help establish the Boy Scout program, and write the Belizean Boy Scout Handbook modeled after the US handbook, using Belizean folk heroes.   They also helped establish Camp Oakley National Scout Campground, in Burrell Boom Belize, similar to Boy Scout camps in the United States.  During this two-year endeavor, Chester and Claire developed a lifelong friendship with Belizean Scout executive Hilberto Riverol and his family.

Upon their completion of their assignment in the Peace Corps in 1986, they set down roots, building their final home on property they bought in Sanbornville, NH in 1966 when Chester was assigned mid-career to Hanscom AFB, Massachusetts the first time.

Chester is survived by 5 children: Chester Czepyha, Jr and his wife Maureen of Sanbornville, NH and their two children: Daniel and his daughter Isabella (Seline); and their daughter Rachel Cyr and her husband Josh; Claire Graham of Merrimack NH and her two children:  Jim and his wife Sarah; and Jason and his wife Ashley, and their two children Ryleigh and Parker; Cynthia McGrath and her husband Tom of Burke, VA and their 4 children:  Will Walsh and his wife Sarah and their two children Carter and Theron; Abbey Bingaman and her husband Adam and their two children Wyatt and Violet; Jonathan and his two children Elijah and Micah; and son David. Craig Czepyha of Sanbornville, NH. Christopher Czepyha and his wife Rachael of Warwick, RI and their two children:   Helen Guiot and her husband Henri, and Marsha-Rose; In all, Chester is survived by 5 children, 10 grandchildren, 9 great grandchildren and his cats Oliver and Katrina.

At Chester's request, his body has been cremated.  There will be a private celebration of life with family at his home with a spreading of ashes to commemorate a life well lived.

In lieu of flowers, it is requested that donations be given in honor of Chester Czepyha, Sr to the Alzheimer's Foundation.

To express condolences, please visit: www.peasleefuneralhome.com