Edward "Ed" T. Szymanowski

Ed was a proud veteran of the United States Army and served in the Korean War. He built a career as a Professional Engineer (Mechanical) consulting for companies like Johnson & Johnson, McDonald Engineering, and USG, where he worked for 20 years.

Outside of work, Ed had many interests and hobbies. He was an avid newspaper reader and would regularly clip articles; mainly regarding finance or health and articles that he thought would benefit his children and grandchildren. He was a financial planner for his family; a health nut who dedicated himself to daily workouts and exercise; and a landscaper taking great pride in his well-kept yard. His greatest love was polka dancing which he continued to do up until the age of 90. The many polka festivals he traveled to over the years were the best of times. He prided himself on dancing with women all over the United States who regarded him as a great dancer. The smile on his face was always evident when he was dancing.

Ed was known by his family as “The Protector”. He was always striving to keep his family safe and cared for. His bond with his entire family was strong and he dedicated some of his time as the “family researcher”.

Ed is survived by his wife, Janet; daughters, Carisa (Jim) McCarthy and Pamela Gatto (Mike Gawlik); grandchildren, Emily (Tom) Benko, Collin (Taylor) McCarthy, Shaelyn (Scott) Corbett, Morgan (Conor) Morrill, and Matthew (Maggie) Bettencourt; and great-grandchildren, Lochlan and Emersyn McCarthy. He will also be greatly missed by many nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Waclaw and Sophia (nee Wojcik) Szymanowski; and siblings, Stephanie (Ed) Schmidt, Leona (Nick) De Fotis, Chester (Joan) Szymanowski, Alice (Gene) Bachta, and Evelyn (Arthur) Lostumo.

A visitation for Ed will take place on Friday, June 6, 2025 from 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM at Glueckert Funeral Home, 1520 N Arlington Heights Rd, Arlington Heights, IL. Entombment will take place the following day at 11:00 AM, Saturday, June 7, 2025 at Maryhill Catholic Cemetery Chapel in Niles, IL.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the MDS Foundation (www.mds-foundation.org)