Joseph Lewis 'Joe' Szarzynski

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Szarzynski, Joseph Lewis "Joe" of Edina died peacefully in hospice care on Thursday, March 30, 2017 at the age of 84. Joe is survived by his sons Ronald (Gail) of Eden Prairie, Darcy (Joni) of Edina, Thomas (Megan) of Apple Valley, and daughters Lori Wells (Stephen) of Eau Claire, WI, and Jody Freeman (Barry) of Glen Ellyn, IL, 14 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren, brother John (Barbara) of Upland, CA. Joe was preceded in death by wife, Mary Jo (Caron), son John, grandson, Kevin Szarzynski, sisters Helen Adeline Coleman and Marie Dero. Joe was born on February 2, 1933 in Taunton, Minnesota to LP and Cecilia Szarzynski. He graduated from Marquette University (a fine Jesuit institution) in 1954 with a degree in business. He married Mary Jo Caron, in 1953. After college graduation, he moved his family back to Marshall, MN where he had a Chevrolet dealership with his brother-in-law Lawrence Dero. In 1963 the family moved to the Twin Cities area where he worked for many years as a commodities broker with Merrill Lynch, then Continental Grain. He and Mary Jo were active in ballroom dance clubs, weekend card games (whist, anyone?). Joe's true hobby was model railroading. He spent many hours working on his HO brass trains commemorating his beloved Milwaukee Railroad. Not many kids grew up with a ceiling that lowered down with a large train track! Summer would find Joe manicuring his lawn (and his kids escaping duties running the lawn bags). He had a fondness for history - thank goodness for the History Channel! Dad will be on the lookout for his favorite actor in heaven: James Garner of Maverick and the Rockford Files fame. He was staunchly proud of his Polish heritage, and thought the Catholic Church finally got it right when they selected a Polish pope (John Paul II). A meat and potatoes man, he proved himself self-sufficient as a widower with his FryDaddy at the ready.He was especially happy when his kids and grandchildren could all come together as a group: summertime, or the holidays. A visitation will be held on Tuesday, April 4 from 4:30-8 pm at Washburn-McReavy Edina Chapel. A funeral is scheduled for Wednesday April 5 at 10 am at St. Richards Catholic Church, 7540 Penn Ave S, Richfield, MN. with visitation one hour prior. Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association. Washburn-McReavy.com Edina Chapel 952-920-3996 West 50th St. & Hwy 100

Published on April 2, 2017