Henry Szymczak

Henry Szymczak, World War II Army combat infantry veteran, proud factory worker at The Western Electric Company in Kearny, NJ, husband, father, and grandfather, passed away on Wednesday, November 17, 2010 at his home in Bayonne, NJ.
Henry was born on December 30, 1923 in Bayonne, NJ, the son of Andrew Szymczak and Sophie Sokal Szymczak, and was raised there on Avenue C with his sisters Jean Szymczak Kessler and Mary Szymczak Selmer and his brothers Eddie Szymczak and William Szymczak.  He graduated from the industrial/vocational program at Bayonne High School in June 1943.
Henry might have spent his whole life in Bayonne, but immediately after high school he was swept up by the whirlwind of World War II.  Wanting to serve his country, Henry joined the Army as an infantryman in July 1943 and became part of General MacArthur’s “island hoppers”.  He was in the thick of some of the greatest battles of the Pacific War, including the first waves at Leyte Gulf and Luzon.  Henry served with great valor and heroism, and was honored with many decorations, including a Bronze Star and two Purple Hearts.  
Returning from the war in 1946, Hank went to work with The Western Electric Company in Kearny, NJ, where he worked in positions of increasing responsibility until he retired in 1984.  But as proud as he was of his career, his job was most important to him because it was the way that he supported and sustained his family in comfort and style.  Henry’s family was truly the center of his life.  His wife Genevieve and his daughter Lorraine Simplenski O’Brien could never have hoped or dreamed of a more devoted and loving husband and father.  And although both Genevieve and Lorraine have also left us, his grandchildren Kevin O’Brien and Erin O’Brien Harkiewicz survive to remember the best Grandpa there ever was, and Erin’s children Isabella, Connor and Alexandra Harkiewicz will also lovingly recall their Grandpa Henry.  Also surviving are his sisters Jean and Mary and his brother Eddie.
In addition to his family and his work, Henry loved the outdoors, and spent countless happy hours at Liberty State Park and other parks around Bayonne.
Visitation will be 2-4pm & 7-9pm, Friday, November 19th, at the S. Fryczynski and Son Funeral Home, 32-34 East 22nd St., Bayonne, NJ, 201-339-1692.  On Saturday, November 20th, prayers will be said at 9:00am at the Funeral Home, followed by a 10:00am Mass of Christian Burial at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Roman Catholic Church, 39 East 22nd Street, Bayonne, NJ.  Interment will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery in North Arlington, NJ.
Floral remembrances are welcome, and memorial contributions can be made to the Wounded Warrior Project at www.woundedwarriorproject.org or the USO at www.uso.org.

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