Piotr Halaj, born November 6, 1967 in North Western Poland, passed suddenly on October 25, 2023 in his dream home in Lake Forest. Piotr was known as PIH to his college buddies, Pedro to his closest friends, Padre to his kids, Dziadziu to his young grandchildren, and Kochanie Moje to his wife. Born to Jan and Michalina (Helena) Halaj he was 1 of 5 siblings and grew up in communist Poland. He met his wife Marzanna (Marzena) when they were young and their love blossomed into 36 years of being together, 31 of which were married. Little known story, in order to be with Marzena, Piotr drove his competition (her boyfriend at the time) to the train station so that he could try to win her over.

Piotr was no stranger to death with his two older brothers passing away too young and both his parents passing within 5 years of each other in the late 2000s. He is now happily rejoined with them and together they look down upon us all.

He is survived by his wife Marzena, his 2 sons Marek and Arek and their wives, his 5 beautiful grandchildren (Alexandra, Maksymilian, Lukasz, Izabella, and Oliwer), and his dog Bosman who was there by his side to the very end.

His favorite things to do were playing poker with his friends, going to the desert to ride his quad, and spending his evenings in their jacuzzi with his wife. But above all that, he loved being "Dziadzio". Nothing brought him more joy and pride than to be able to spend what little time he had with his grandkids. Watching Olek grow from a little girl to a young woman. Teaching his first born grandson, Maksiu, all about trains and spending his birthdays together at Thomas the Train events. Reading to Lukaszek about dinosaurs and how they roar. Holding Iska, who only in his arms did not cry. And lastly, Oli who was the youngest and last grandkid and the one who will carry his namesake forever to come.

Piotr was loved by anybody that knew him. There was no kinder person to ever exist. Any room he walked into, he made it brighter. His infinite knowledge of jokes and kabarety will bring us happiness for years to come.

His selflessness knew no bound to strangers or his loved ones. The proof of this is how he uprooted his great life in Poland with a great job, newly remodeled home, and two cars to move to the United States and start everything all over from the bottom, just to provide a better life for his kids and wife. Piotr's life goal was to make sure everybody, especially his family, were taken care of. Now he is gone and it is his family's turn to continue his legacy and continue his AMERICAN DREAM.