HARWINTON — John E. Bigos, Sr. 89, of Wildcat Hill Road in Harwinton, died at home early Thursday morning, Dec. 31, 2009 with his loving wife of 65 years, Bernie, at his side.
Born June 23, 1920 at the family farm in Harwinton, he was the son of the late Stanley and Catherine Perdek Bigos. John lived his entire life in Harwinton on the family dairy farm and became the operator in 1941 at the age of 21. He had a large vegetable produce business and was known throughout the county for the succulent sweet corn he raised each summer. He had great pride when customers returned year after year for his special sweet corn.
John was a recipient of the Arthur B. Poole Award, a distinction given to Harwinton residents who have a strong commitment to public service. When given this award it was said that John was "as close to being Harwinton as you can get. He loves his neighbors, loves his town and loves his family." His community involvement included being a 4-H leader, a forest fire warden, and a member of the land re-evaluation committee. He served on the executive committee of the Harwinton Agricultural Society and was a member of the Litchfield Country Farm Bureau and the Connecticut Milk Producers Association. Former Governor John Dempsey appointed John to the state Soil Conservation Advisory Committee for five years and he was also agriculture adviser for the Civil Defense.
John was involved in town government serving as a selectman and a member of the Board of Tax Review. He was an active member of the Center Volunteer Fire Department. He loved volunteering as head chef for the chicken barbecue fundraisers for both the fire department and the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church. Upon selling his dairy herd, John went to work for the Harwinton Street Department. When he retired he was the foreman for the department.
In addition to his wife, Bernice (Yonkaitis) Bigos, John is survived by his daughter Christine Sweklo and her husband John of Hadley, Mass., his son John, Jr. and his wife Barbara of Salisbury, four grandchildren, Elizabeth Sweklo Ellevog and her husband Erik of Chicago, John Adam Sweklo of Dalton, Ga., John Bigos 111 and his wife Merina of Harwinton, Lacey Bigos of Bristol, and his sister, Stella Gryniuk of Torrington. Known as "Papa" John delighted in his two great-grandchildren, Ashley Ellevog and Colby Bigos. John was predeceased by his brothers Michael and Edward and his sister, Cecelia Kissh.
Funeral services Tuesday, Jan. 5, at 9:45 a.m. from Phalen Funeral Home, 285 Migeon Ave., Torrington, to Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Harwinton for a Mass at 10:30 a.m. Burial will follow at New Saint Francis Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home on Monday from 4 to 7 p.m.
In lieu of flowers contributions in Mr. Bigos' memory may be made to the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Harwinton, the Center Fire Department in Harwinton, the Harwinton Ambulance Association, or VNS of Connecticut/Hospice at Home, 62 Commercial Blvd., Torrington, CT.
Born June 23, 1920 at the family farm in Harwinton, he was the son of the late Stanley and Catherine Perdek Bigos. John lived his entire life in Harwinton on the family dairy farm and became the operator in 1941 at the age of 21. He had a large vegetable produce business and was known throughout the county for the succulent sweet corn he raised each summer. He had great pride when customers returned year after year for his special sweet corn.
John was a recipient of the Arthur B. Poole Award, a distinction given to Harwinton residents who have a strong commitment to public service. When given this award it was said that John was "as close to being Harwinton as you can get. He loves his neighbors, loves his town and loves his family." His community involvement included being a 4-H leader, a forest fire warden, and a member of the land re-evaluation committee. He served on the executive committee of the Harwinton Agricultural Society and was a member of the Litchfield Country Farm Bureau and the Connecticut Milk Producers Association. Former Governor John Dempsey appointed John to the state Soil Conservation Advisory Committee for five years and he was also agriculture adviser for the Civil Defense.
John was involved in town government serving as a selectman and a member of the Board of Tax Review. He was an active member of the Center Volunteer Fire Department. He loved volunteering as head chef for the chicken barbecue fundraisers for both the fire department and the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church. Upon selling his dairy herd, John went to work for the Harwinton Street Department. When he retired he was the foreman for the department.
In addition to his wife, Bernice (Yonkaitis) Bigos, John is survived by his daughter Christine Sweklo and her husband John of Hadley, Mass., his son John, Jr. and his wife Barbara of Salisbury, four grandchildren, Elizabeth Sweklo Ellevog and her husband Erik of Chicago, John Adam Sweklo of Dalton, Ga., John Bigos 111 and his wife Merina of Harwinton, Lacey Bigos of Bristol, and his sister, Stella Gryniuk of Torrington. Known as "Papa" John delighted in his two great-grandchildren, Ashley Ellevog and Colby Bigos. John was predeceased by his brothers Michael and Edward and his sister, Cecelia Kissh.
Funeral services Tuesday, Jan. 5, at 9:45 a.m. from Phalen Funeral Home, 285 Migeon Ave., Torrington, to Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Harwinton for a Mass at 10:30 a.m. Burial will follow at New Saint Francis Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home on Monday from 4 to 7 p.m.
In lieu of flowers contributions in Mr. Bigos' memory may be made to the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Harwinton, the Center Fire Department in Harwinton, the Harwinton Ambulance Association, or VNS of Connecticut/Hospice at Home, 62 Commercial Blvd., Torrington, CT.
HARWINTON — John E. Bigos, Sr. 89, of Wildcat Hill Road in Harwinton, died at home early Thursday morning, Dec. 31, 2009 with his loving wife of 65 years, Bernie, at his side.
Born June 23, 1920 at the family farm in Harwinton, he was the son of the late Stanley and Catherine Perdek Bigos. John lived his entire life in Harwinton on the family dairy farm and became the operator in 1941 at the age of 21. He had a large vegetable produce business and was known throughout the county for the succulent sweet corn he raised each summer. He had great pride when customers returned year after year for his special sweet corn.
John was a recipient of the Arthur B. Poole Award, a distinction given to Harwinton residents who have a strong commitment to public service. When given this award it was said that John was "as close to being Harwinton as you can get. He loves his neighbors, loves his town and loves his family." His community involvement included being a 4-H leader, a forest fire warden, and a member of the land re-evaluation committee. He served on the executive committee of the Harwinton Agricultural Society and was a member of the Litchfield Country Farm Bureau and the Connecticut Milk Producers Association. Former Governor John Dempsey appointed John to the state Soil Conservation Advisory Committee for five years and he was also agriculture adviser for the Civil Defense.
John was involved in town government serving as a selectman and a member of the Board of Tax Review. He was an active member of the Center Volunteer Fire Department. He loved volunteering as head chef for the chicken barbecue fundraisers for both the fire department and the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church. Upon selling his dairy herd, John went to work for the Harwinton Street Department. When he retired he was the foreman for the department.
In addition to his wife, Bernice (Yonkaitis) Bigos, John is survived by his daughter Christine Sweklo and her husband John of Hadley, Mass., his son John, Jr. and his wife Barbara of Salisbury, four grandchildren, Elizabeth Sweklo Ellevog and her husband Erik of Chicago, John Adam Sweklo of Dalton, Ga., John Bigos 111 and his wife Merina of Harwinton, Lacey Bigos of Bristol, and his sister, Stella Gryniuk of Torrington. Known as "Papa" John delighted in his two great-grandchildren, Ashley Ellevog and Colby Bigos. John was predeceased by his brothers Michael and Edward and his sister, Cecelia Kissh.
Funeral services Tuesday, Jan. 5, at 9:45 a.m. from Phalen Funeral Home, 285 Migeon Ave., Torrington, to Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Harwinton for a Mass at 10:30 a.m. Burial will follow at New Saint Francis Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home on Monday from 4 to 7 p.m.
In lieu of flowers contributions in Mr. Bigos' memory may be made to the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Harwinton, the Center Fire Department in Harwinton, the Harwinton Ambulance Association, or VNS of Connecticut/Hospice at Home, 62 Commercial Blvd., Torrington, CT.
Born June 23, 1920 at the family farm in Harwinton, he was the son of the late Stanley and Catherine Perdek Bigos. John lived his entire life in Harwinton on the family dairy farm and became the operator in 1941 at the age of 21. He had a large vegetable produce business and was known throughout the county for the succulent sweet corn he raised each summer. He had great pride when customers returned year after year for his special sweet corn.
John was a recipient of the Arthur B. Poole Award, a distinction given to Harwinton residents who have a strong commitment to public service. When given this award it was said that John was "as close to being Harwinton as you can get. He loves his neighbors, loves his town and loves his family." His community involvement included being a 4-H leader, a forest fire warden, and a member of the land re-evaluation committee. He served on the executive committee of the Harwinton Agricultural Society and was a member of the Litchfield Country Farm Bureau and the Connecticut Milk Producers Association. Former Governor John Dempsey appointed John to the state Soil Conservation Advisory Committee for five years and he was also agriculture adviser for the Civil Defense.
John was involved in town government serving as a selectman and a member of the Board of Tax Review. He was an active member of the Center Volunteer Fire Department. He loved volunteering as head chef for the chicken barbecue fundraisers for both the fire department and the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church. Upon selling his dairy herd, John went to work for the Harwinton Street Department. When he retired he was the foreman for the department.
In addition to his wife, Bernice (Yonkaitis) Bigos, John is survived by his daughter Christine Sweklo and her husband John of Hadley, Mass., his son John, Jr. and his wife Barbara of Salisbury, four grandchildren, Elizabeth Sweklo Ellevog and her husband Erik of Chicago, John Adam Sweklo of Dalton, Ga., John Bigos 111 and his wife Merina of Harwinton, Lacey Bigos of Bristol, and his sister, Stella Gryniuk of Torrington. Known as "Papa" John delighted in his two great-grandchildren, Ashley Ellevog and Colby Bigos. John was predeceased by his brothers Michael and Edward and his sister, Cecelia Kissh.
Funeral services Tuesday, Jan. 5, at 9:45 a.m. from Phalen Funeral Home, 285 Migeon Ave., Torrington, to Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Harwinton for a Mass at 10:30 a.m. Burial will follow at New Saint Francis Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home on Monday from 4 to 7 p.m.
In lieu of flowers contributions in Mr. Bigos' memory may be made to the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Harwinton, the Center Fire Department in Harwinton, the Harwinton Ambulance Association, or VNS of Connecticut/Hospice at Home, 62 Commercial Blvd., Torrington, CT.
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