John Pencak

Jan (John) Pencak - son of Tomasz and Anastazia Pencak. John was raised in Poland with 3 brothers, Pavel, Bruno, Leonid and his twin sister, Helene. His closest companion in Poland was Peter while Casimir was his closest companion in the United States.

Even though John only completed a fifth grade education, he was an avid student of life and had an uncanny ability to understand how things worked. He applied this talent throughout his lifetime winning him numerous awards and bonuses from work and earning him gratitude from friends and neighbors as they joined together to problem solve.

On October 12, 1957 John married Wanda Hirsekorn at St. Mary of The Angels of Chicago. They were blessed with 5 children: Helen, Christine, Diana, Leslie and John Jr. and six grandchildren Samantha, Steven, Kenneth, Kevin, James and Christina. John loved his family and worked hard to provide for them with full time and part time jobs for many years; however, he was probably best known for the “side” jobs as he never said no to anyone if it was within his power to help them.

John was a Polish Catholic Holocaust survivor and prisoner of war in Auschwitz and Buchenwald for 3 years. He made a promise to God if he survived the concentration camps, he would use his personal skills to help others the rest of his life. After liberation, he was stationed in Germany with the English army as a mechanic. In the early 50s, John was sponsored to come to America and work on a rose farm. He proudly became a US citizen in 1964 and considered America his new home.

John was energized by new ideas and was excited by life’s possibilities, traits that made him an exceptional worker. While his primary occupation was in maintenance and welding for General Motors, John also made numerous “suggestions” during his 37 years.

John loved a broad variety of activities in his life and took advantage of the opportunity to pursue numerous hobbies. His favorite pursuits included good food, dancing, studying the universe and watching nature while feeding the birds and animals. John was a lover of animals and cherished his pets. Willie the dog was a best friend for 10 years.

Though he never did anything solely for individual recognition, John's ingenuity, resourcefulness, and selflessness earned him accolades for his many lifelong efforts. When retirement came in 1989, he still did his side jobs, went to school trying to learn an additional language, plus earned a black belt in Tae Kwan Do.

John Pencak passed away on August 14, 2013, at home peacefully in Romeoville. John was 91 years of age, lived his life by his promise to the end, and went home to Heaven with vow fulfilled. A life well and truly lived.

Services were held at St. Scholastica. John was laid to rest in Queen of Heaven.

Eulogy

Delivered by John’s Goddaughter Barbara Zelinski

“Life is Beautiful” …… among the many words of wisdom that my Uncle John conveyed to me over the years of his bountiful life, that simple phrase from this wonderful human being will be at the top of my fond memories list.

As each of us reflect today on the life of John Pencak, for Aunt Wanda, her husband, for Helen, Christine, Donna, Leslie, and Johnny, their loving father, for the grandchildren, family and friends, each of us have a different perspective and a probably a different fondest memory.

Whether it was his high energy level that tested our abilities on the dance floor, his yearning and desire to converse with seemingly anyone that would listen, the willingness to share his time and technical skills, the kind, fun-loving and nurturing spirit, that was his persona, or some other attributes or events, each of us will cherish the memories.

He was a man that constantly strived to challenge himself, both physically and mentally, and he did so all his life, as evidenced by his 37 successful years & career at GM Fisher Body, earning a black belt after retirement in Tae Kwan Do, just to name a few.

The common thread that I am sure runs through all our collective memories is the truly uplifting spirit, his zest for life, which this wonderful man had.

I really cannot remember a time that I saw my Uncle John, when he did not have a smile upon his face, even this past 4th of July, the last time I saw him, he gazed, smiling at his loving wife , who tenderly cared for him.

Yet, as I think of some parts of Uncle John’s life, I ask myself the question “how could this be so?” John was born into a loving family, yet the world he soon came to know as a young man was harsh and cruel, by any standards. His capture by the Nazi regime, and his subsequent imprisonment in a place, Auschwitz, that I believe we can all agree was the epicenter of some the greatest atrocities ever committed against humanity that would harden the spirit and soul of almost anyone. The world that John Pencak soon came to know, his world at the time, was anything but beautiful.

Yet, as a man of faith, his spirit, while I am sure tested, endured. The war ended and other challenges emerged. John Pencak took that spirit of his, and eventually found his way to the United States of America, the land of opportunity. He seized that opportunity and went on to live a full and bountiful life. It was here that along with Wanda, his wife of over 50 years, his 5 beautiful children and later the grandchildren, life did in fact, become more beautiful.

I often wonder, what defines a person. Do they become the person they are because of what happened to them, or in spite of what happened to them. I do not know the answer to this question, but I do

know that this simple man never took for granted freedom, Aunt Wanda’s good cooking, that each waking day is his birthday and the possibilities it holds, and his loving supportive family.

He chose to define his life as a man of faith, with a positive spirit, a twinkle in his eye and a smile upon his face. He is dancing with the angels on his way to heaven to Bosa, excited to speak to all about his 91 years on earth.

Let us all embrace this simple man’s philosophy, Life is Beautiful.