Mr. Joseph Gorzen

Joseph Gorzen was born in Radomsko, Poland, March 18, 1926. He was the youngest of 5 children, 2 brothers and 2 sisters. He grew up on a small farm that his family owned. His father died when Joseph was 9 years old and his mother raised the family on her own. During the Nazi occupation of Poland when Joseph turned 14 years old he was taken away from his family by the Nazis and put to work on a farm in Germany. Here he met American POW’s, and the Americans joking and relaxed demeanor made an impression on him. He knew then that he wanted to come to America. At the war’s end he was liberated by the Americans and he applied to come to America as a displaced person. While awaiting his papers he was recruited for and served with the Polish Provisional Brigade under command of the 3rd U.S. Army to guard German POW’s and U.S. facilities. He also attended high school and technical school in Germany at this time, studying to become a mechanic. He was in the American occupied sector of Germany and was exposed to American culture, particularly the pop music that the GI’s listened to. He loved singing and started singing the American songs he heard. This is how he taught himself to speak English. After 3 years he finally immigrated to the United States and settled in Chicago. He took a job as a machine screw operator. He also joined some choral singing groups and continued his singing. In January of 1952 he was inducted into the U.S. Army and was sent off to fight in the Korean War. He served with the 185th Combat Engineer Battalion. This unit saw considerable combat action supporting the 1st Marine Division, and it was subsequently awarded the Navy Unit Citation. After serving 18 months he was honorably discharged, attaining the rank of Staff Sergeant. He returned to Chicago and used the GI Bill to study electronics at Devry Technical Institute. In 1954 he became a naturalized US citizen. All this time he kept up with his singing. He was now singing in several clubs around Chicago and Lake Geneva. His first job after Devry was with Oak Manufacturing, an electrical switch and tube company. He moved on to Spiegel and then U.S. Steel. His responsibilities increased from draftsman to electrical designer with each job change. In 1968 he was hired as an electrical designer for Sargent & Lundy, a large utility contractor. Here he designed industrial switches and layouts for projects like Fermilab, Zion Nuclear Power Plant, and Zimmer Nuclear Power Station in Cincinnati. In 1982 he left Sargent & Lundy to contract on his own. He retired in 1988 at age 62 in Crystal Lake, IL. He lived in a small home with a large lawn that he enjoyed mowing. He was also proud of his rose bushes and peach trees. Joseph always kept singing. In 2009 Joseph became a resident of Illinois Veterans Home in LaSalle, IL. Joe was suffering from dementia and Alzheimer ’s disease. Over the ensuing years his memories of his life and family faded away, but the one thing he never forgot was to sing. The caretakers and nurses at the veteran’s home will always remember “Singing Joe”. Joseph is survived by his first wife, Barbara and their four sons; Andrew, Waldemar, Mark, and Bogdan, and his second wife Theresa. He is also survived by seven grandchildren. Joseph will be interred at Crystal Lake Union Cemetery in the veteran’s section, with a memorial service to be scheduled in March. All arrangements are entrusted to Muzyka & Son Funeral Home, 5776 W. Lawrence Ave., Chicago, IL 60630. In lieu of flowers please send donations to the Illinois Veteran’s Home, 1015 O'Conor Ave., LaSalle, IL 61301.

Mr. Joseph Gorzen

March 18, 1926 - January 20, 2013