John was born Dec. 24, 1892 in MostyWielkie,Galicia,or as he would say "400 years after Columbus discovered America". His parents were Anton and Anna Sliwinski. John had several older siblings; the sisters emigrated to the United States, his brother stayed in the "Old Country". John came to the United States in 1907 and lived with his sister, Tilly, in Brooklyn, NY. He later joined the Infantry and served in Texas,where he became a citizen(and name changed) and the Panama Canal during its construction. John married Margaret Pelikan in 1922 and they had 2 daughters. John had a variety of jobs including shopkeeper, metalworker, custodian. He was always proud that no matter what, even the Great Depression, he always provided for his family and never took "relief".
John loved talking about his days in Galicia, how he traveled to America alone, his Army days, and could go on for hours-which he did! To his family's delight.
John could speak 6 languages, and read a Polish newspaper even until his later years, although he always spoke English
John loved playing games: cards, Scrabble, dominoes. He enjoyed getting dressed up as Santa Claus when his grandchildren were young, and loved to play cards with them or play jokes.
For the holidays, he made his famous cole slaw and traveled to the North Side to buy authentic Polish kielbasa.
He and Margaret were true partners, married for 62 years,and still enjoyed each others company.
John also had the great thrill of meeting his great- grandson.
Over the years, John survived several strokes and partial
lung removal. Despite this, he could be sharp as a tack. On one occasion he admonished his granddaughter for stopping the car past the line!"You know you were supposed to stop there",using his cane for emphasis.
He died Sept 27, 1988; his wife and daughters predeceased him. John was survived by his grandchildren, great grandson, and many more loving relatives.
Sgt. US Army
Thank you to Ann Meaker for sponsoring this page.
And a special thank you to Thetford Stones for cleaning up his photo.
Note: I do not give anyone permission to reprint any information or photo's that have been added to this memorial.
John loved talking about his days in Galicia, how he traveled to America alone, his Army days, and could go on for hours-which he did! To his family's delight.
John could speak 6 languages, and read a Polish newspaper even until his later years, although he always spoke English
John loved playing games: cards, Scrabble, dominoes. He enjoyed getting dressed up as Santa Claus when his grandchildren were young, and loved to play cards with them or play jokes.
For the holidays, he made his famous cole slaw and traveled to the North Side to buy authentic Polish kielbasa.
He and Margaret were true partners, married for 62 years,and still enjoyed each others company.
John also had the great thrill of meeting his great- grandson.
Over the years, John survived several strokes and partial
lung removal. Despite this, he could be sharp as a tack. On one occasion he admonished his granddaughter for stopping the car past the line!"You know you were supposed to stop there",using his cane for emphasis.
He died Sept 27, 1988; his wife and daughters predeceased him. John was survived by his grandchildren, great grandson, and many more loving relatives.
Sgt. US Army
Thank you to Ann Meaker for sponsoring this page.
And a special thank you to Thetford Stones for cleaning up his photo.
Note: I do not give anyone permission to reprint any information or photo's that have been added to this memorial.
John was born Dec. 24, 1892 in MostyWielkie,Galicia,or as he would say "400 years after Columbus discovered America". His parents were Anton and Anna Sliwinski. John had several older siblings; the sisters emigrated to the United States, his brother stayed in the "Old Country". John came to the United States in 1907 and lived with his sister, Tilly, in Brooklyn, NY. He later joined the Infantry and served in Texas,where he became a citizen(and name changed) and the Panama Canal during its construction. John married Margaret Pelikan in 1922 and they had 2 daughters. John had a variety of jobs including shopkeeper, metalworker, custodian. He was always proud that no matter what, even the Great Depression, he always provided for his family and never took "relief".
John loved talking about his days in Galicia, how he traveled to America alone, his Army days, and could go on for hours-which he did! To his family's delight.
John could speak 6 languages, and read a Polish newspaper even until his later years, although he always spoke English
John loved playing games: cards, Scrabble, dominoes. He enjoyed getting dressed up as Santa Claus when his grandchildren were young, and loved to play cards with them or play jokes.
For the holidays, he made his famous cole slaw and traveled to the North Side to buy authentic Polish kielbasa.
He and Margaret were true partners, married for 62 years,and still enjoyed each others company.
John also had the great thrill of meeting his great- grandson.
Over the years, John survived several strokes and partial
lung removal. Despite this, he could be sharp as a tack. On one occasion he admonished his granddaughter for stopping the car past the line!"You know you were supposed to stop there",using his cane for emphasis.
He died Sept 27, 1988; his wife and daughters predeceased him. John was survived by his grandchildren, great grandson, and many more loving relatives.
Sgt. US Army
Thank you to Ann Meaker for sponsoring this page.
And a special thank you to Thetford Stones for cleaning up his photo.
Note: I do not give anyone permission to reprint any information or photo's that have been added to this memorial.
John loved talking about his days in Galicia, how he traveled to America alone, his Army days, and could go on for hours-which he did! To his family's delight.
John could speak 6 languages, and read a Polish newspaper even until his later years, although he always spoke English
John loved playing games: cards, Scrabble, dominoes. He enjoyed getting dressed up as Santa Claus when his grandchildren were young, and loved to play cards with them or play jokes.
For the holidays, he made his famous cole slaw and traveled to the North Side to buy authentic Polish kielbasa.
He and Margaret were true partners, married for 62 years,and still enjoyed each others company.
John also had the great thrill of meeting his great- grandson.
Over the years, John survived several strokes and partial
lung removal. Despite this, he could be sharp as a tack. On one occasion he admonished his granddaughter for stopping the car past the line!"You know you were supposed to stop there",using his cane for emphasis.
He died Sept 27, 1988; his wife and daughters predeceased him. John was survived by his grandchildren, great grandson, and many more loving relatives.
Sgt. US Army
Thank you to Ann Meaker for sponsoring this page.
And a special thank you to Thetford Stones for cleaning up his photo.
Note: I do not give anyone permission to reprint any information or photo's that have been added to this memorial.
