WEBSTER – John A. “Mike” Mikolajczak, 92, died Sunday, November 29, 2015 at home after a period of declining health. Whether you knew him as John, Sonny, Al or Mike, we lost a quiet, gentle and witty man who gave of his time, talent and treasure to his family, friends and community.
He leaves his wife of 57 years, Rosemarie “Ruth” (Roy) Mikolajczak; 2 sons, Rodney Sohngen and his wife Sandra of St. Petersburg, FL, and Bruce A. Mikolajczak and his wife Susan of Woodstock, CT; a daughter, Lynn M. Pedersen and her husband Chris of Oxford; 7 grandchildren, Jon, Lauren, Paul, Daria, Rodney, Tammy and John; 14 great-grandchildren; nephews and nieces. He was predeceased by his brother Anthony Mikolajczak and sister Eleanor Gogolinski.
He was born September 23, 1923 in Worcester, son of Anthony and Augusta (Harbort) Mikolajczak, and lived in Webster and Dudley most of his life. He graduated from Bartlett High School in 1941 and later attended Cole Trade High School in Southbridge in 1947. He then earned an Associate Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Worcester Junior College in 1952.
He was a World War II Army Air Corps veteran, serving as a sergeant. He was a member of the PAV and participated in the firing squad division of the annual Memorial Day Parade for many years.
In 1947, Mr. Mikolajczak began his career at the American Optical Company in Southbridge and also in Buffalo. He was first a machinist and then superintendent of the machine shop, retiring in 1984.
He was a communicant of Saint Anthony of Padua Church in Dudley. He was currently a member of the Dudley Lions Club which he joined in 1973. He served in many capacities, including King Lion as well as chairman of the annual Christmas Basket Committee for several years. He was the first club member to receive the Melvin Jones Award, the highest form of recognition which embodies humanitarian ideas consistent with the nature and purpose of Lionism. He was a former member of the Serra Club of Southern Worcester County.
The funeral will be held Friday, December 4, from Scanlon Funeral Service, 38 East Main St., with a Mass at 10:00 AM in Saint Anthony of Padua Church, 24 Dudley Hill Road, Dudley. Burial will be in Mount Zion Cemetery. The Webster-Dudley Veterans Council will provide the military honors. Visitation will be from 4:00 to 7:00 PM Thursday, December 3, in the funeral home. Donations in his name may be made to the Dudley Lions Club, Scholarship Fund, PO Box 51, Dudley, MA 01571-0051.