It is with heavy hearts and profound sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Husband, Father and Dziadzia, Andrzej (Andy Sr.) Jarzabek, 86 years of age and a long time resident of Thunder Bay. Andrzej (Andy Sr.) passed away peacefully in his home on Tuesday May 12, 2015 nine days before he would have celebrated his 87th birthday.
Andrzej (Andy Sr.) Jarzabek was born on May 21, 1928 in the beautiful mountain region of Szaflary, Poland. At the age of 13 he was taken from his family by the Nazi soldiers to work in the German work camps. Throughout his young life’s journey he met many wonderful people who helped him along the way. He became a soldier in the American Army Polish Battalion, later working in Germany, Holland and Belgium. He arrived in Halifax, Canada at Pier 21 in 1956 and made his way to Thunder Bay (Port Arthur) where he settled. He worked as a heavy equipment operator for American-Can in Marathon and later until his retirement in 1992 for Great Lakes Forest Products Woodland Division Upsula Camp #134.
In 1970 he met and married his loving wife, Irena from Poland. She joined him in Canada in 1971 and they started their family. They would have celebrated 45 years of marriage later this year. He was extremely proud of the lives and accomplishment of his three children. He was also very proud to have been on this earth long enough to enjoy being a Dziadzia. His grandchildren were his greatest joy and left a twinkle in his eyes.
Andrzej (Andy Sr.) was proud to be a Polish-Canadian and of his Polish heritage. He loved the outdoors and most of all he loved his hunting and fishing expeditions. He would eagerly anticipate the moose hunting season every year where he would hunt with his son, son-in-law, long time hunting partner Benny Hank (Michigan) and the Pritchard family.
He was a member of the Polish Alliance of Canada Branch #19 for 59 years, a member of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #219 Polish Combatants Branch #1 for 43 years, as well as a long time member of St. Mary’s Our Lady Queen of Poland Church.
Andrzej (Andy Sr.) will be lovingly remembered and dearly missed by his surviving Wife Irena, his children Elizabeth (Gary Langlois), Anna (Kyle Hakala) and Andy Jr. (Shelley Blunt), his grandchildren, Matthew and Mitchell Hakala, Bailey, Sienna, and Carson Jarzabek, and Cassidy Harman. He is also survived by his only living cousin Ludwika Gawron, her daughter Zofia Bachleda-Wala and her family, numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends both in Canada and in Poland.
Andrzej (Andy Sr.) was predeceased by his parents Franciszek and Katarzyna Jarzabek (przy-domek od Kasprów), parents-in-law Tadeusz and Helena Wojtas, his brother-in-law Mieczyslaw Wojtas, his sister Anna and husband Jozef Zapotoczny, sister Barbara and husband, and nephew Stanislaw Zapotoczny.
Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 AM on Thursday May 21st, 2015 in St. Mary’s Our Lady Queen of Poland Church with Mass to be celebrated by Rev. Ireneusz Stadler. Interment will follow in St. Andrew's Catholic Cemetery. Visitation for family and friends will be held on Wednesday evening, May 20th, 2015 from 7:00 PM until 9:00 PM in the Chapel of Harbourview Funeral Centre, 499 North Cumberland Street, with Vigil Prayers being offered at 8:00 PM that same evening.
Tatusiu kochany od Pana Boga przyszedles i do Pana Boga wróciles wieczne odpoczywanie racz mu dac Panie, a swiatlo wiekuiste nie haj mu swieci na wieki wieków, Amen. Odpoczywaj w pokoju kochany Tatusiu i zawcze czuwaj nad nami z Panem Bogiem.
