John Szozda Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

John Szozda, age 90, of Toledo, passed away Friday August 13, 2010 at Hospice of Northwest Ohio, Toledo Center. He was born on February 9, 1920 in Toledo, Ohio to Stanislaw (Stanley) and Anna (Dzendrowska) Szozda. A World War II Army Veteran and Purple Heart recipient, John was assigned to the First Battalion, 35th Armored Regiment, 4th Armored Division. In 1943, the First Battalion was relieved from the 4th Armored and renamed the 771st Tank Battalion. The 771st was an independent tank battalion, a revolutionary concept at the time. It was attached to infantry units when they called for support. The 771st provided such support in France and Belgium. While moving up to the front line at Bastogne, during the Battle of the Bulge, John's Sherman tank was destroyed by a land mine. He emerged with a concussion and was ordered to a field hospital and finally to a hospital in Paris. He spent the rest of the war with the 3114th Ordnance unit stationed in Warmeriville, a small village near Reims. There he met the love of his life, Suzanne Perotin. Four years later, in 1949, he kept his promise to return to France to marry her. The two made their home in Toledo. John was a set-up and repair man at Champion Spark Plug where he worked for 30 years. He also built his own house, repaired the family vehicles, appliances, televisions and radios. Although he left grade school during The Great Depression, he believed in self-education and read manuals and books in order to fix anything mechanical. In retirement, he enjoyed golfing and fishing at the family's cabin in Northern Michigan. He also enjoyed helping his children with family projects. He was a member of Christ the King Catholic Church. He is survived by Suzanne, children John (Becky) Szozda; Jeri (Rick) deGroff; Kathie (Jim) Koenigseker; Frank (Darla) Szozda; Tim (Lila) Szozda; Chris (Rich) Amstel, all of whom are living in the Toledo area, and Lisa (Tony) Santos of Denver, Colorado. He is also survived by 21 grand-children, three great-grandchildren, a brother (Peter), and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Michael, Bronislaw (Bert), Casimir and Frank, and sisters Amelia (Portala), Anna (Maciejewski), Bertha (Koperski) and Tessie (Razny). Visitation will be from 2:00 to 8:00pm Monday in the Ansberg-West Funeral Home 3000 Sylvania Avenue where a scripture reading and eulogy will be held at 7:30pm. Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated 12:00pm Tuesday at Christ the King Church (prayers will be recited at the funeral home at 11:30am). Interment in Calvary Cemetery. The family thanks the caregivers at From the Heart and staff at Hospice of Northwest Ohio for their care and help. Memorial donations can be made to Hospice of Northwest Ohio, The Cherry Street Mission or the Salvation Army. Online condolences may be left at www.ansberg-west.com

John Szozda

February 9, 1920 - August 13, 2010