John G. Szymanski, 91

ADAMS, Mass. — Mr. John G. Szymanski, 91, of Adams, died Tuesday afternoon, October 31, 2017, at Williamstown Commons.

He was born in Pittsfield on October 2, 1926, a son of the late Joseph and Teofilia (Zadroga) Szymanski, and attended Pittsfield schools. He had also attended the Massachusetts State Police Training Academy in Framingham. He was a Veteran of World War II, serving with the Army Medical Corps in the Pacific Theater, until his Honorable Discharge as a Sergeant in 1946. He later served as a member of Massachusetts National Guard 104th Infantry Division as First Sergeant of Headquarters Company.

John last worked as a winder in the Power Transformer division of General Electric Co. in Pittsfield until retiring. Earlier, he served as a police officer for the Town of Adams until retiring from the force in 1967.

He was an active communicant of St. Stanislaus Kostka Church, Adams, where he served as a lector, as a Eucharistic minister visiting shut-ins with communion on First Fridays;  and was a member of the Parish Council, the St. John Kanty Scholarship Committee, St. Cecelia’s Choir,  and many other committees. He was a member of the St. Stanislaus Kostka Society, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the Adams Lodge of Elks. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus, where he served as a Fourth Degree Past Faithful Navigator and member of its Honor Guard. He was a volunteer at North Adams Regional Hospital for many years.

His wife, the former Flora K. Nowak, whom he married on August 30, 1947, died on August 11, 2005.

He is survived by his two sons, David Szymanski and his wife, Elizabeth, of Bellevue, Nebraska, and Paul Szymanski and his wife, Arlene, of Attleboro, Mass.; five grandchildren, including Kerri Brainard and her husband, James, Mark Szymanski and his wife, Lisa, and Kyle Szymanski, Laura Szymanski and Kate Szymanski;  a great-granddaughter, Callie;  as well as many nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by a brother, Joseph Szymanski; and by his sisters Leona Raino, Rose Siok, Stephanie LeBlanc and Irene Golyzniak.

Funeral notice: The funeral will be held on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2017, at 9 a.m. from the Paciorek Funeral Home, 13 Hoosac St. Adams, followed by a Liturgy of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. in St. Stanislaus Kostka Church. Burial will follow in St. Stanislaus Kostka Cemetery, Adams.

Calling hours are Friday, November 3, 2017, from 4 to 6 p.m. at the funeral home. Memorial donations may be made to St. Stanislaus School, 108 Summer St. Adams, MA 01220.