Henry Edward Wykowski Jr.

Henry died at his home August 26, 2026 surrounded by family.

Henry is survived by his wife Catherine M. Weis and his siblings: Steve Wykowski (Kathy), Daniel Wyckowski, Thomas Wykowski, Christine Strauss, Joy Wykowski (James Lupo), his brother-in-law John Perkins, and life-long friend Jim Brabec. He is preceded in death by his sister Linda Perkins, brother-in-law Charles Strauss, his mother June Patricia Wykowski, and father Henry Edward Wykowski.

He was born July 17, 1953 in Chicago, Illinois. He graduated from Southern Illinois University and earned master’s degrees from DePaul University and Roosevelt University. He enjoyed many careers—a wine sommelier, a carpenter, a network engineer, and a tour guide with Lincoln Park Conservatory, Chicago History Museum, Chicago Architecture Center—truly, a renaissance man.

He traveled the world—Asia, Africa, South America, Europe—with his gift of storytelling and his sense of discovery, his journeys would begin with a one-way ticket. He relied on a local person or family, a bus driver, or a fellow traveler to guide him. Consequently, his journeys would meander to wonderful places with many momentous experiences, some were: walking across the Serengeti with the Maasi, driving a steam locomotive in Kenya, riding on the Trans-Siberian Railway, watching the northern lights in Alaska, and in his convertible, visiting over four hundred U.S. National Parks with his wife.

Border crossings were often noteworthy. While on a bus that stopped in Sendora Luminoso, Peru, the militia boarded to interrogate the travelers. He successfully negotiated his freedom. When the officer pulled a pair of Ray Ban sunglasses from Henry’s backpack, he quickly gifted them, saying, “Oh you are so macho. You look like John Wayne.”

He built motorcycles, bicycles, computer networks. He loved roadsters, music, photography, bicycling, kayaking, hiking, playing guitars and ukeleles, and dancing.

He shared with one and all his mutual love of music, history, humor, a well-timed joke, and the beauty of the world.

Friends will gather for a music-filled celebration at a later date. Please direct memorial gifts to Bahama Village Music Program, 103 Olivia Street Key West, FL 33040. https://bvmpkw.com/

Bon voyage.