Jozef S. Tatkowski, 96, of Niles, passed away peacefully on September 12 with his loving family at his side.

Jozef was born August 12, 1930, in Mlynne, Poland to Piotr and Karolina Tatkowski, one of 10 children. He grew up in Mylnne, surviving the German invasion of Poland during World War II. He attended University then he served in the Polish army as a nurse. Upon his graduation, he became a high school professor in Zakopane, Poland, where he taught and coached students in skiing biathlon events. He left Poland and lived in Austria before immigrating to the United States in 1960 thanks to the sponsorship of his brother, John/Jasiu. He settled in Chicago.

It was there he met the love of his life, Cecylia. The two were married on June 3, 1962, in St Fidelis Church in Chicago and moved to Niles in 1966. Jozef became an instructor at Pivot Point beauty school, encouraging Cecylia to attend and get her certifications. Together they purchased and owned two beauty salons one in Chicago and one in Niles, called MagicTouch. During this time, Jozef also earned his real estate license and worked for CoachLight Reality for more than 30 years as a top salesman.

Jozef was a devout Catholic, and passionate member of the St. John Brebuf Catholic Church in Niles. He was the founder of the Mikołaj Kopernik Polish School at St. John Brebuf in 1976, and spearheaded the committee to bring Polish language mass to the Church for the first time in 1980. He also served as the Grand Knight for the North American Martyrs Council #4338.

Family was everything to Jozef, and he expressed that with his unwavering commitment to show up for every event, no matter how big or small, for his three daughters, six grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. His smile always lit up any room her entered, and his infectious laugh and legendary stories will remain in the hearts of all who had the chance to know him.

Jozef is survived by his wife, Cecylia, daughters Margaret, Jeanette and Amy, grandchildren Nicole, Joshua, Caitlyn, Timmy, Samantha and Justin, and great-grandchildren Genevieve and Harper. He was preceded in death by brothers, Franuś, Jerzyk, Michaś, Jaisu, Antek, Włodek, Zygmunt, Piotr, and sister Ania.

Visitation Thursday September 24, 2026 at Skaja Terrace Funeral Home 7812 N. Milwaukee Ave. Niles, IL 60714 from 4PM until 8PM. Funeral Prayers Friday September 25 at Skaja Terrace Funeral Home at 10:15 AM to St. John Brebeuf Church for 11:00 AM Mass. Interment Maryhill Cemetery.