Sgt. Joseph Cendrowski

Sgt. Joseph Cendrowski passed away peacefully on February 24, 2016 in Waco, Texas.

The family will receive visitors from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm on Saturday, February 27, 2016, at OakCrest Funeral Home, 4520 Bosque Blvd., Waco, Texas. Private services will be conducted at a later date.

Joseph was born March 14, 1930 to Walter and Lottie Cendrowski in Berea, Ohio. Joe enlisted at the age of 17 in the United States Air Force and served for six years. In 1961, Joe joined the Waco Police Department. Joe served initially as a patrolman in East Waco, and was promoted to Sargent. Joe also worked as a Detective in Vice, Crime Prevention and started Waco Crime Stoppers. In 1987, he retired from the City of Waco as a policeman for 26 years. He was a long time member of Waco Police Association where he also served as an Officer on the Board of Directors.

Joe was united in marriage to Verna Bee on November 12, 1964.

Joe was preceded in death by his parents; son Kenny Cendrowski; brothers, Harry, Bernard and John; and one sister, Elizabeth; son-in-law, James Harold McCullough; granddaughter in-law, Elizabeth McCullough; in-laws, Bud and Rene Winningham; and brothers-in-law, Elbert & Bobby Winningham, C.P. Downing and Robert Bates.

Joe is survived by his wife of 51 years, Verna Bee Cendrowski; children, Patricia Denman, Carlton James and wife, Shelly, and Karen McCullough; grandchildren, April Lance, Matthew Denman, John McCullough, Daniel McCullough, Jared James and wife, Stephanie, Cody James and fiancé, Jelly, and Dalton James; great grandchildren, Katherine McCullough, Dustin McCullough, Addison Lance, and Payton McCullough; sisters-in-law, Dorothy Downing, Wanda Gordon and husband, William, and Barbara Bates; and many special friends.

Memorials may be made to Waco Police Association or Stilwell Retirement Residence.

Special thank you to Providence Hospice, Dr. Ed Cooney, and Dr. Phillip Myatt.