John Joseph Borowy

John (Baptized Joseph 09/28/1947; Confirmed 10/16/1960) Borowy was born after the official end of WWII in the forced labor camp for “Displaced Persons”, Camp Rehden, in Diepholz, Germany on April 26, 1947, to Franciszek & Irena (née Mech) Borowy. The camp, a former German Army Camp, held a large ammunition depot scattered over a huge forest area with bunkers mainly underground. The Army personnel housed in low stone buildings and the forced labor in wooden barracks. Because of ethnic discord among prisoners, Rehden became 100% Polish and administered by the British being in the British zone. Within a short time, Camp Rehden morphed into the Polish center for higher education for all Polish DP camps in Germany using the Polish system with the equivalent of high school education & eventually was called Polski Oboz W Rehden KR. Diepholz.

John’s father served in the Polish Cavalry during WWII. Suffering gunshot wounds to his legs, outliving 2 horses & eventually surviving multiple concentration camps including Auschwitz, the Nazis had captured John’s father during the Polish September campaign in 1939. John’s parents individually endured the horrors of concentration camps for 7 years until 1945 at which time they were transferred to DP camps, finally meeting & beginning a family. John’s family was eventually sponsored by a US farmer & arrived on Ellis Island in Sept 1949. John became a US citizen in 1960 & served honorably behind enemy lines in the US Air Force during Vietnam. John’s upbringing undoubtedly reflects perseverance, strength & courage which continued to emanate all the years of his life.

John met the love of his life & married Nelda (née Walker) Borowy cherishing 50 years of marriage & raising 3 children. He devoted his time & strength to caring & providing for his family, at times working 3 jobs until he launched his own business 40 years ago: A-Accurate Refrigeration, Heating, Cooling & Appliance from which he never retired. John served his community, the underprivileged, the areas where no one would go, the veterans, the accomplished & the respected. “They don’t make them like him anymore” echoes in several circles. For 3 terms, John served as Commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post #8677. As a member of the Polish American War Veterans, he infused pride & honor into his children for their heritage. His loyalty and unique sense of humor consistently lavished itself upon his extended family birthing deep delight & chuckles. His passions were rooted in cars, music, politics, deep thought, and certainly silliness at times …posing with pig heads & quipping his quick wit. His wisdom encompassed mechanics & mathematics, the fight for freedom, independent thinking, bbq’ing and most importantly, love & fortitude. From Nelda sprang John’s love & life purpose. …John lost the love of his life in December 2020. No words aptly paint his heartache. Being unfamiliar with the word “quit”, he trudged forward to care for his children & animals as he’d promised Nelda until he was unexpectedly hospitalized. John died on September 7, 2021, in hospital at age 74 after Little John & Barbara told him they each would be just fine & it’s ok to be with Mom & David in Paradise. John lived as epitomes of FORTITUDE & LOYALTY & LOVE. No, they do not make them like him anymore.

Deeply missing John are his children, Barbara Jean (Aaron Michael) Ryan of Encinitas, CA, & John Allen Borowy of Fairview Heights, IL; granddaughter, Josefina; grandson, Nicholas; siblings Karol, Susan, Steven (Jean), Lisa (Keith), Jane (Greg), Tim (Lori), Claudia (Marcellus), Julia-Li (Rick), Jeremy (Rebecca); in-laws Connie, Bob & a multitude of loving aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins & faithful friends. John was preceded in death by his parents, Frank & Irena; his brothers, Richard & Gene; his nephew, Jacob; his sweet son, David Matthew; and his heart, Nelda.

We ask family & friends to join services Sunday, Sept 26, 2021, at Lake View Funeral Home: Viewing 12-2pm, Funeral 2pm with Committal to follow including military honors. Condolences may be sent to the family at 7 Huntleigh Dr, Collinsville, IL 62234. …Daddy, we miss you sooo much. See you in the blink of an eye.