Ambassador for Iron City beer, played basketball for Duquesne

William Piekarski’s family said no one loved Iron City beer as “fanatically” as he did.

He drove a big rig for the brewery for more than 30 years and collected everything from old beer cans and posters to tap handles and neon lights. He would tow kegs around in his truck with him, and on Steelers Sundays would pour out free Iron City to fellow tailgaters.

“Talk about a brand ambassador,” said his son Troy Piekarski, of Shaler.

Mr. Piekarski died March 29 after a battle with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. The Shaler resident was 62.

“He was just a fun-loving, simple guy that didn’t ask for much but gave much,” said Dave Piekarski, one of his three brothers. “He just had a huge heart.”

At a towering 6 feet, 8 inches, Mr. Piekarski was a basketball star in high school and recruited by coach Red Manning to play at Duquesne University in the mid-1970s.

He played for four years, his family said, and received several offers to play in Europe, but ultimately stayed close to home. But Mr. Piekarski remained a fixture on local basketball courts, and for about 20 years played in the Duquesne Alumni League.

After he graduated from college, he got the job at Iron City until his illness forced him to slow down in 2012, his son said.

“He just never looked back and fell in love with the brand,” Troy Piekarski said. “It’s kind of cool. He was always kind of a popular guy for that reason.”

“I know every one of my friends growing up was just amazed by the Iron City stuff that he had that nobody else had,” said Derek Piekarski, another son, who lives in Ross.

Besides beer and basketball, Mr. Piekarski also loved spending time with his six grandchildren and his beloved Jack Russell mix, Jordan.

He never missed an episode of “The Voice” on Mondays and Tuesdays and used his old flip phone to take selfies with his dog, Troy Piekarski said.

He was an avid Arnold Schwarzenegger fan and has old photos with him where he towered over the actor, Derek Piekarski said.

An amateur body builder himself, Mr. Piekarski told stories about how he was once approached by a recruiter for WWF wrestling.

Derek Piekarski said he remembers when he and his brothers were kids his dad would invite them into the garage to lift weights with him.

“Those are some of the best memories I have growing up,” he said about his father.

Some people may have been intimidated by Mr. Piekarski’s big frame, but his family called him a “gentle giant.”

“He was just a real nice guy,” Derek Piekarski said.

Mr. Piekarski was predeceased by a son, Zak Piekarski. In addition to his sons, he is survived three brothers, Gene, Dave and Rich Piekarski; and six grandchildren.

Visitation will be held from noon to 4 p.m. and 6 to 9 p.m. Friday at the Worrell Funeral Home in Sharpsburg. A Mass of Christian burial will be held Saturday at 10 a.m. at All Saints Church in Etna. Interment will be private.