Anthony Faikus did just about anything he wanted.
He was a World War II fighter pilot, an author of a memoir, a robust gymnast and a strong swimmer who at nearly 90-years-old was out-swimming his son on Lake Michigan. He was also an avid sailor, fisherman and bicyclist.
“He was the most honest man I ever knew,” said his daughter, Cheryl Capra. “He was kind, he was so generous, he was funny. People just remember all the great times being with him, and the character [he was]. He was just shining to everybody.”
Mr. Faikus, a longtime Chicagoan, died Wednesday, He was 101. He was the last living U.S. World War II fighter pilot of Czech heritage.
Two weeks ago, he celebrated his birthday at the Veterans Home in Manteno with loved ones and a special delivery of hundreds of birthday cards, many from the Czech Republic, including from the mayor of Lipov, Mr. Faikus’ hometown. He was amazed to see the outpouring of celebration for him, his daughter said.
“He was just so proud to say he was 101, but how people appreciated what he went through being a fighter pilot, he was just so awed that they were appreciating him after all these years,” she said.
Many cards were from Czech schoolchildren, some with sketches and drawings of Mr. Faikus flying his plane wearing a helmet and goggles.
“Thank you. … That’s nice of them to get so many birthday cards from my homeland,” Mr. Faikus said as he went through the cards at his birthday party.
His son, Glenn Faikus, said his father treasured the birthday party and he thinks the celebration “gave him a little more staying power to make it to this week.”
A day after Mr. Faikus’ death, the town of Lipov rang church bells for 15 minutes in his honor.
Mr. Faikus was born Dec. 4, 1923, to Anthony Faikus Sr. and Elizabeth “Betty” Faikus.
When Mr. Faikus was 2 years old, his family immigrated to Chicago’s Little Village, where he attended a Czech school and joined the American Sokol Organization, a Czech gymnastics society that promotes physical fitness.
A few days after his 18th birthday, the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor spurred Mr. Faikus to volunteer for the Army. He completed his fighter pilot training in 1943 and later that year became a member of the famous 40th Fighter Squadron, also known as “The Red Devils.”
Mr. Faikus worked on patrol missions and bomber escorts, flying P-39 Airacobras and P-47 Thunderbolts. He later worked on ground-attack operations.
In 1945, he was promoted to the rank of captain and became a flight leader. In April of that year, he shot down a Japanese Zero fighter over Taiwan.
In all, he was awarded the Air Medal six times.
After his military career, he was a foreman and a machine operator for more than 30 years.
Mr. Faikus was married for 76 years to his wife, Lorraine, who is also of Czech heritage, and the two lived in the same Forest View home for 70 years. The couple enjoyed traveling to various national parks, visited Canada and Mexico and took a cruise through the Panama Canal.
They also owned a houseboat on the Illinois River, which they used to patrol the river on weekends as members of the Coast Guard Auxiliary.
“We were very blessed, my brother and I, to have these parents to take care of us,” Capra said.
In 2016, Mr. Faikus published his book, “The Ride,” a chronicle of his life and thoughts through stories and poems.
“He wrote poems all the time, and about all kinds of things — the seasons, feelings about the war, being a fighter pilot, his kids, just so much insight and so much about his character,” his daughter said.
In addition to his son and daughter, Mr. Faikus is survived by his wife; his sister, Blanche Finn; five grandchildren; and several great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his brother, Miles, and his parents.
Services will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Tezak Funeral Home in Joliet. Visitation will be at 10 a.m. Friday at the funeral home, followed by interment with full military honors at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood.