Calvin "Cal" E. Sustachek

Service Details

His Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. at St. Mary’s By the Lake Catholic Church, 7605 Lakeshore Dr. Racine, on Wednesday, May 11^th, with Rev. Patrick O’Loughlin officiating, followed by military honors. Visitation will be in the funeral home on Tuesday, May 10^th from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. The funeral service will be livestreamed with this link:  https://youtu.be/A4n39nmD0gM

Memorial Suggestions

In lieu of flowers, the family has suggested memorials to Donate Life Wisconsin P.O. Box 1095 Madison, WI 53701.

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Calvin Sustachek, aged 97, passed away peacefully on Wednesday May 4^th, 2022.

Cal was born in Racine, Wisconsin on July 14^th, 1924, to August and Louise Sustachek. He was the second of three children. After graduating from Horlick High School 1941, he enlisted in the Navy. He saw action in the Atlantic Ocean on a destroyer escort. He decided to take advantage of the GI Bill and he enrolled in watchmaking school in Elgin, Illinois. Cal achieved the title of Certified Master Watchmaker, and later, those technical skills and expertise afforded him the opportunity to contribute to the Apollo Moon Project through AC/Delco Electronics, where he would help to create and assemble an innovative guidance system.

     On July 10,1948, in St. John Nepomuk Church, he was united in marriage to Marilyn Aseltine; they had three children, Linda, Bob, and Bill. She preceded him in death on December 27, 2012. In 1977, Cal and Marilyn purchased Rasmussen Diamonds which is family owned and operated to this day. Later, he would also become associated with the American Watchmakers Institute (AWI), as well as, Bulova Watch Company and was an educator for both. Cal continued to work for Rasmussen Diamonds into his early 90’s. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. Cal was married to Marilyn for 63 years.

Cal had many interests outside of work and family. He loved to read, complete crossword puzzles, and volunteered for Kiwanis Club of West Racine. Cal and Marilyn traveled extensively throughout the United States while working for Bulova and AWI, and also traveled to visit friends and family. He had the opportunity to visit The Washington DC Memorial, as part of the Honor Flight for WWII veterans.

Cal is survived by his sons Robert (Libby) Sustachek of San Diego, Ca. and William (Kathy) Sustachek, son-in-law, Jim Michel, all of Racine, WI, eleven grandchildren, Denise Michel, Joel (Christine) Michel, Laura (Matt) Hurtienne, James (Shauna) Michel, Wendy Sustachek, Adam (Summer) Sustachek, Katrina Sustachek, William (Isabel) Sustachek, Kristin (Daniel) Widmar, Koreen Sustachek, and Kevin (Samantha) Sustachek; twenty-one great grandchildren, Peter (Lauren) IV, Michael (Rachel), Ellie, Abbie, Cecily, Emmit, Brittany, Elizabeth, Darren, Sawyer, Sidney, Elisabeth, Eleanor, Jillian, Mara, Logan, Kassidy, Indiana, Keira, Everett, and Avery. In addition to his parents and beloved wife, Cal was preceded in death by his daughter, Linda Michel; granddaughter, Lisa Michel Hannes; brother, Clyde (Margaret) Sustachek; and sister, Ellen (Rudy) Spodick.