Edward W. Siminiak

1929 - 2021

By Mark Zaborney
Blade Staff Writer

Edward W. Siminiak, a combat veteran of the Korean War who served a quarter century as a Toledo police officer, died Oct. 24 in his Laguna Woods, Calif., home. He was 91.

He had heart bypass surgery about 10 years ago, and his 92nd birthday was upcoming, but his death was unexpected, his son, Bruce, said. He used a walker most recently and bowled until three years ago.

"He was in very good health," his son said.

Formerly of Oregon and of Pasadena Boulevard in West Toledo, Mr. Siminiak moved west in 2002 after his second wife died. He worked security for a time at a community in California for those age 55-plus.

He was born Nov. 25, 1929, to Mary and Metro Siminiak, who were immigrants from Poland.

Mr. Siminiak grew up at 550 E. Central Ave., in North Toledo, attended St. Hedwig Church, and was a graduate of Woodward High School.

In the Army, he was sent to Korea.

Mr. Siminiak didn't speak much of his wartime experiences. In one of the two stories he told, an artillery shell struck the spot where he and comrades had been moments before.

"He was lucky to make it home alive," his son said.

Once a civilian and back in Toledo, he joined veterans organizations, including the American Legion and VFW.

Mr. Siminiak's work experience included a stint at the Libbey-Owens-Ford Co., best known as a maker of automotive glass. By the late 1950s, he became a Toledo police officer.

"He loved law enforcement," his son said. "He always enjoyed helping people any way he could."

Mr. Siminiak was a career patrol officer and, throughout, received recognitions for lending an extra hand.

In one instance, two vacationing women were stranded in Toledo with a broken down car and no resources. He gave them money from his pocket.

"They turned around and sent a letter to the police department, thanking the police department for what he had done to help them get home," his son said.

His family didn't know whether any given workday had been calm or eventful.

"He really never brought his job home," his son said. "When he came home, he was happy and in a good mood and enjoyed being with us."

Mr. Siminiak was a devout Catholic, and his son recalled that the family said prayers together nightly before bed. His Catholic faith sustained him through personal loss - the death of his first wife, Doris; then of his son Edward and his second wife, Kathleen.

"That is what he wanted to impart to us as well, that importance of believing in God," his son said. "That truly enabled him to cope with the challenges he faced. He put all his belief into God and depended on God to get him through those situations."

Mr. Siminiak retired from the Toledo police force in 1984. His grandson, Justin Siminiak, is a Toledo police officer.

Mr. Siminiak liked to travel.

Summer road trips were standard as his sons were growing up. He liked to fish Lake Erie and inland lakes in Michigan. An amateur magician, he visited magic shops to buy new tricks to perfect and show off.

"He was fun and liked to joke," his son said. "He enjoyed getting people to laugh."

He was a member of Corpus Christi Church, Aliso Viejo, Calif.

He and the former Doris Burden married in 1955. She died in 1978. Their son, Edward A. Siminiak, died in 2000. He and the former Kathleen Szabo married in 1988. She died in 2002.

Surviving are his life partner of the last decade, Charlene Gummere, whom he met bowling; his son, Bruce Siminiak; five grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.

A vigil and visitation will be from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday at O'Connor Mortuary, Laguna Hills, Calif., followed by a prayer service there at 10 a.m. Tuesday.

Then in Toledo, at Urbanski Funeral Home, 5055 Secor Rd., visitation will be from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday.

Funeral services will begin at 10 a.m. Nov. 19 at St Catherine of Siena Church, where he'd been a member.