Theodore A. Kaminski died on February 7, 2026, surrounded by those who loved him. A man of quiet strength, service, and devotion to family, Theodore lived a life defined by duty, integrity, love and having a good time.
He was the beloved husband of Vivian Kaminski (née Knauer). He was a wonderful and devoted father to his daughters, Stephanie Kaminski Fulsom (Matt) and Jennifer Kaminski Magnus (Adam), and stepfather to Dena Raney (Robert) and the late Billy Sprock. Dear brother of Dennis Kaminski and brother in law to Georgia Kaminski. Theodore took great pride in his role as a grandfather to Allison, Natalie and Charlie Deterding, and Julius Furlow, each of whom brought him immense joy.
He was also a favorite uncle, great uncle, cousin, and friend to many.
Theodore was preceded in death by his parents, Theodore A. Kaminski Sr. and Elizabeth A. Kaminski and his dear cousin, Jeannie Heck.
He was more than a role model to his family, he was a hero.
A Vietnam War Veteran, Theodore proudly served his country in the United States Navy on the USS Cone. Following his military service, he continued his commitment to protecting and serving others through a distinguished 30-year career with the St. Louis County Police Department, retiring as a detective with a triple digit badge number. His dedication to public service left a lasting impact on his daughters, colleagues and the community he served.
He was a devoted member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks (BPO Elks) and proudly served as a former Exalted Ruler, a role that reflected his deep commitment to fellowship, charity, and service.
Above all, Theodore was a family man with a great sense of humor. He loved telling jokes, sharing stories from his life, and bringing laughter to every room he entered. His grandchildren especially cherished the magic tricks he performed for them— moments that will forever live on in their hearts.
Theodore also enjoyed life’s simple pleasures. He was a longtime member of the Missouri Botanical Garden and also loved the St Louis Zoo, places that reflected his love of gardening and where he delighted in the beauty of nature and wildlife.
He was a devoted fan of St. Louis Cardinals Baseball and loved attending games whenever he could. When he wasn’t at the ballpark, he could often be found relaxing on his patio with Viv, listening to Cardinals games on the radio and enjoying his beautiful flowers and Talavera pottery—content, at ease, and exactly where he loved to be.
Theodore will be remembered for his steady presence, kind heart, quick wit, all the hilarious jokes and the laughter he so freely shared. His legacy lives on in the stories told, the lovely flowers grown in his yard and the love of family and friends who will miss him dearly.
SERVICES: Visitation at Kutis Affton Chapel (10151 Gravois Road Affton, Missouri 63123) on Thursday, February 12, 4:00 – 9:00 p.m. and on Friday, February 13, 10:00 a.m. until funeral service at 11:00 a.m. Interment Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions to Backstoppers appreciated.
He will be missed. This was a beautiful tribute to your father. I love you both so much.
Dear Steph, Matt & Kaminski family,
So very sorry to hear of your dad’s passing.
It’s almost unbearable to lose a parent.
Our thoughts & prayers are with you & your family at this sad time.
Take care of each other,
The Fulsom, Davis & Sang families
Ted was a good guy was proud to call him a friend
Viv and family – my sincere condolences to you and your family. Ted was a lovely person and will be missed by all. You are in my thoughts and prayers at this difficult time.
Ted was a very good friend of mine. We met for the first time as freshman at Vianney High School in 1962 and remained friends ever since. He was an usher at our wedding, and we have watched Stephanie and Jeffifer grow up. Susan and I are greatly saddened at Ted’s passing and give our deepest sympathy to Ted’s family. We are all better people for having known him.
Great memories of Ted and our teenage years. We had so much fun in the 60’s. May he rest in peace.
Ted and I worked together for many years as Crime Scene Detectives. Not only was he a very good Investigator, he was always fun to work with. He will be missed.
Ted trained me to be a Crime Scene Detective. He was the Best. He taught a fingerprint lifting technique (Magna Powder) that I’m sure the Detective still use. He had a great sense of humor and made it a better place to work. He will be missed
Let me start by saying I met Mr. Kaminski only once. But, he made a very large impression on myself. I became in a very organic way, his families impromptu tour guide! I remember initially, that he seemed very quiet. He soon warmed up though and was very easy going and talkative. What I noticed almost immediately was his curiosity, and a very intense longing to learn. Very quickly you could tell this man was an intellectual. Fascinated by history, and the stories I told about my families generational history here in Santa Fe, NM. We toured downtown Santa Fe, and I know he and his family really enjoyed it. Because they told me so.
Once I learned he was a veteran, I thanked him for his service and explained that my own father had served in Vietnam as a Marine. He enjoyed seeing pictures of my dad back in country, and I told him some stories my pops had told me. He really enjoyed the story about how my father once, had to call in an indirect fire mission from a navy ship in the gulf of Tonkin. He mentioned how close the relationship of sailors and Marines truly are in a theater of war. This brought a smile to my face. What started out as day trip to teach visitors about Santa Fe really evolved into a wonderful learning opportunity for me. I learned a whole hell of a lot from this man that day.
As the day progressed, I very clearly witnessed how much he loved his family. This was soooo very apparent. Crystal clear in fact how much and how strongly this man loved. Also, I got to see how fearlessly Ted tackled challenges. You see Mr. Kaminski at this point in his life was using an electric mobility device. Downtown Santa Fe isn’t known for being a model for wheelchair accessibility, or being disabled friendly. Watching Ted and his family laugh and use humor to deal with this difficulty was wonderful. I was in awe of his indomitable “spirit”. A very strong and powerful constitution this man had. I could tell that Ted faced challenges head on and with a full heart. Not once did I hear him complain about the situation. Honestly, I feel like Ted perfectly embodied the classic values all men of character strive to achieve. A love of family, community, country, service, but most of all life! And all the wonderful joys it imbues. You could tell Ted lived life to its fullest. Maybe more importantly though, I watched him take great care of those he loved, fearlessly and selflessly. Is this not what every man hopes and dreams for his life?
Mr Kaminski, thank you for re-enforcing to me the greatest lesson we have to learn in life. Live life to its fullest, love to its fullest, and commit to making the world around you a better place. What a pillar of a man to illuminate these values in literally, one interaction! May you rest in peace sir…
Viv, I am so sorry for your loss. Thoughts and prayers to you and your family.