Harry Leonard Dowodzenka

Dowodzenka, Harry L.
Passed away peacefully February 26, 2012 at the age of 89. Loving husband of Marian nee Roelke for 68 years. Loving father of Diane Donald Czeszynski, James Pamela Dowodzenka, Nancy Bruno Margoni, and Jean Dennis Dick. Beloved grandfather of David, Donna, Scott, Skyla, Shelby, Shane, Marilyn, Susan, Dan, Dawn, Matthew, and Jonathan. Proud great-grandfather of 17. Brother of Dolores Kodrich, Joanne Robert Prei, and Ronald Carol. Also survived by nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.
Visitation will be held Thursday at ST. FLORIAN’S CHURCH 1210 S. 45th St. from 10 AM – 11 AM. Funeral Mass to follow at 11 AM. Interment Arlington Park Cemetery.
Proud World War II veteran and member of VFW Post 2879. In lieu of flowers, memorials to the charity of your choice appreciated.

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Harry Dowodzenka’s Obituary as read by Dawn Klockow:

Good morning. For those of you who do not know me, I am Harry and Marian’s oldest granddaughter Dawn.
For the last few days as I sat and pondered what to say about my Grandfather and his life, it occurred to me that mere words are insufficient to sum up a man’s journey through life. My grandfather can be described in the simplest words, and while the words themselves may be simple, each has a special meaning to us here. He was a son born to Peter and Pearl on June 30, 1922, a brother to 6 siblings, a husband, a father, an uncle, a grandfather, a great-grandfather, a veteran a businessman, and a friend, and finally the patriarch of one branch of a family tree that goes back generations. Family is what defines us, ties us together and gives us roots.
He stole the heart of my grandmother and kept it for 68 years of marriage. My grandparents’ marriage is an example to us all, they made it through the good times and the bad, and I hope to follow their example. Their love for each other began another limb on the family tree and produced four children: Diane, James, Nancy and Jean. He nurtured and watched his children grow and marry. Harry and Marian’s joy increased with the addition of 8 grandchildren and 4 step-grandchildren. They got the pleasure of spoiling those grandchildren and watching them grow into productive adults, a testimony to how he and my Grandmother reared their own children. Harry and Marian’s joy once more increased, this time twofold with the addition of 17 great-grandchildren. You only had to look at his face when his great-grandchildren were around to see that proud twinkle in his eye. For me it was the most touching show of emotion that I have witnessed. This part of the Dowodzenka family tree is my grandfather’s legacy and where he passed on his own talents and wisdom.
He served his country with honor in WWII as a member of the 14th Armored Division, Company G, 118th Infantry, and was honorably discharged on January 19, 1946. He served for 3 years 1 month and 19 days and was overseas for One year, three months and one day. He earned the Victory medal, American Theater Ribbon, European African Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon with 2 bronze battle stars, 2 overseas bars, 1 service stripe and a good conduct medal. He was a proud veteran and member of the VFW and held posts as commander.
He was a hard worker, a businessman and owned a gas station, which he always called a “filling station” and had customers who loved his humor and personality so much that they would come into his service station to play cards, drink coffee and otherwise pass the time. He even had a few police officers who came to play cards as well. He always enjoyed a good card game. I have memories of many a mother’s day, fathers’ day, Easter and birthday gatherings where you could find him playing cribbage with his toilet seat cribbage board. And in the last few years, he particularly enjoyed beating his daughter Jean, son-in-law Dennis and even his wife Marian at Texas Hold’em poker. They played just about every Saturday night. He taught me many things, including how to add to 21 – by playing blackjack, and to add to 31 – by playing cribbage, ever patient and always with a twinkle in his eye.
He enjoyed a good joke, and I knew I was all grown up when on one Christmas Eve he and my husband were trading naughty jokes one right after the other in rapid fire succession. Thanks to the two of them we all laughed and laughed and I saw a side of my grandfather that I never knew existed – but I am glad I had that experience.
He was always generous to the grandkids. He’d shake his change jar about and all of us little kids scrambling for pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters. Easter egg hunting was fun and fair when everyone had their own special egg with their name on it and a dollar or two inside. He also hid stickers around the house and would give us $2 bills as a reward. He helped me buy my first car as a co-signer, with a stern admonition that he’d really enjoy his new car if I didn’t make my payments. I never missed one, I liked that car. But Grandpa taught me an important lesson with that statement – when you make a promise you keep it, no matter what.
He was a good artist who enjoyed drawing and painting. He painted pictures for his children, two of which hung in our living room when I was growing up. At family gatherings he would bring up a huge coloring book for everyone to have what I call crayon therapy. He took up painting again at Mt. Caramel and produced some beautiful watercolors. One recent one I have, ready to be framed and preserved for posterity. His artistic talent was passed on to his children and grandchildren as well.
He loved his sweets, always had room for one more cookie and a never ending candy jar. Grandpa always had candy and would be unhappy if you didn’t take some when offered. He enjoyed cooking and watching cooking shows.
I will always remember him as a jolly, happy man who was always glad to have company. When I was going through pictures for the picture boards, he was always smiling with a twinkle in his eye and a mischievous smile that made you think he was hiding a secret.
I am and I always will be proud to call myself his granddaughter, and I am sure that each person here is proud to call themselves a sibling, child, grandchild, niece, nephew, cousin and friend of the wonderful man who enriched our lives in countless ways that are too numerous to put into mere words. He is loved deeply by his wife, my grandmother, and by his family. He will be missed, but will live on in our memories and our hearts, his own personal legacy, our family tree. I’d like to finish with a poem that I found:
A limb has fallen from the family tree.
I keep hearing a voice that says, “Grieve not for me.
Remember the best times, the laughter, the song.
The good life I lived while I was strong.
Continue my heritage, I’m counting on you.
Keep smiling and surely the sun will shine through.
My mind is at ease, my soul is at rest.
Remembering all, how I truly was blessed.
Continue traditions, no matter how small.
Go on with your life, don’t worry about falls
I miss you all dearly, so keep up your chin.
Until the day comes we’re together again
–Author unknown