Leonard Szymanski

­­Leonard Raymond Szymanski, 84, of Midland, died Saturday, Nov. 18, 2017 at his home. He was born Dec. 2, 1932 in Glen Lyn, Pa., son of the late Benjamin F. and Regina M. (Tomczak) Szymanski. Leonard enlisted in the United States Army in 1952 and served during the Korean War until his honorable discharge in 1955. While serving his country he made the best decision of his life by marrying the former Dolores J. Goyette on Sept. 25, 1954 in Detroit. After the war, he went back to school and earned his bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Detroit in 1960. Leonard sought employment with the The Dow Chemical Co., retiring in 1992 after 32 years of service as a senior project manager of research and administration. He loved wine, gardening, travel, golf, and above all, family. Leonard was a bogie golfer, double bogie tennis player, but could shoot par as a master gardener when it came to lawn care. He helped start Midland's Master Gardeners in 1991 and remained active in the neighborhood, organizing lawn sprinkler winterizing activities coupled with wine tasting parties. Leonard also volunteered at the County Extension for over 19 years.

He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Dolores, of Midland; their children, Debra Ann (Steven) Chester of Williamston, Raymond Szymanski of Midland, Mark (Leslie) Szymanski, also of Midland, Michael (Penny) Szymanski of Grand Haven, Gregory Szymanski of Scotts Valley, Calif., and John (Dawn) Szymanski of Midland; grandchildren, Alison Donovan of Washington D.C., Aaron Chester of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, Ethan Szymanski, Timothy Szymanski, and Jacob Szymanski, all of Midland, Jessica Farrington of Kent City, Stephanie VanderLugt of Nunica, Rachel Luce of Muskegon, Ashlie Szymanski of Midland, Jerimiah Trute of Grand Haven and Sarah Trute of Grand Haven; and six great-grandchildren. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his grandsons, Steven Szymanski and Nicholas Szymanski; and his brother, Clemence Thomas Szymanski. The family thanks, appreciates and is grateful for the staff at MidMichigan Home Care and Hospice who provided outstanding care and support for Len and his family.

The Funeral Liturgy for Leonard will take place 11 a.m. Monday, Nov. 27, 2017 from Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, 3109 Swede Ave., with Father Bert Gohm as celebrant. His family will receive friends at the Ware-Smith-Woolever Funeral Home on Sunday, Nov. 26 from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. and at the church on Monday from 10 a.m. until the time of Mass. Those planning an expression of sympathy may wish to consider Dahlia Hill, where Leonard will be laid to rest in late summer. The dahlias will be blooming, wine flowing, music playing, prayers offered, tears shed and stories told knowing that heaven has received him.