John Edward Szymanski

John Szymanski, age 74, passed away Friday, January 16, 2026. A funeral service will be held at 11 AM on Monday, January 26 at St. Theodore Catholic Church. A visitation will be held from 2 PM to 6 PM on Sunday, January 25 at Bayview Freeborn Funeral Home and for one hour prior to service on Monday at the church. Burial will be at All Saints Cemetery in New Richland.

John Szymanski, 74, passed away peacefully after a brief battle with mesothelioma, surrounded by family. Born in 1951 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, after spending his early years in an orphanage, he was adopted at age four by his loving parents, John and Kay Szymanski. He later graduated from Edison High School.

In 1976, he married Kathryn Brooks, beginning 42 years of partnership rooted in faith and devotion. The couple raised seven children, spending most of their family life in Alden before later moving to Wells and eventually Albert Lea.

Known for his humor and boundless curiosity, John was a natural storyteller—often recounting his youthful claim of having “wrestled a tiger.” In 1986, John and Kathryn embarked on a mission trip to Venezuela, where they spent three years running an orphanage—an experience that left a lasting imprint on their lives and the lives of many children. After returning home in 1989, John began his long and joyful career with Szymanski’s SI as a salesman. He loved his work deeply, continuing nearly up to the final days of his life. Whether it was pools, chemical feed pumps, water treatment, or training classes, John approached every task with enthusiasm and pride.

John’s hobbies were as colorful as his famous Hawaiian shirts—of which he owned 32. He loved garage sales, “rummage sales,” and treasures on the curb. He enjoyed sailing, tinkering in the garage. In his later years, when he no longer drove, he offered a chauffeur hat for whoever happened to be giving him a ride, always keeping humor close at hand.

A man of deep faith, John cared for his wife throughout her long battle with cancer and became a Knight of Columbus in 2022. He remained active in church committees and activities.

Per his request, those attending his visitation are invited to wear Hawaiian shirts in his honor.

John is preceded in death by his beloved wife, Kathryn; children Christopher, Gabriel, Theresa, and Thomas; his parents, John and Kay Szymanski; his aunt, Delores Hebbe; in-laws Jay and Loretta Brooks.

He is survived by his children: John (Heather) of Lafayette, IN; Mark (Casey) of Owatonna, MN; Mary (Eric) Mickelson of Albert Lea, MN; Michael (Mayanna) of La Crosse, WI; Peter (Emily) of Hinkley, MN; Anne (Elijah) Lippert of Easton, MN; and Rosemary Szymanski of Albert Lea, MN.

He is also survived by his siblings: Carol, Mike, Tom, Liz, Brenda, and Kathy, his grandchildren and great grandchild: Elizabeth, Rachel, Makalia, Henry, Bryson, Merick, Rebecca, Solomon, Philomena, Dixie, Maverick, Aurora, Matthias, Theodore and a new grandbaby arriving in July; and by his cousin Ellen and Mike of Bonita Springs, FL.

John’s life was a testament to faith, family, humor, and service. His legacy lives on in the countless lives he touched. Memorials may be made to St. Theodore Catholic Church or St. Theodore Catholic Elementary School.

The service was live-streamed, and can be watched below, or from the Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Home YouTube page at the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8csqB2U69xE