Mr. Jozef Mularczyk

Jozef Mularczyk passed away on Friday, February 28; his 91st birthday, after a brief illness.

Joe was born in Iwanowice, Poland in 1923. He met Genowefa Mozden, the love of his life, in 1935. They were swept up in World War II on September 17, 1939 when Russia invaded Poland. The two families were uprooted and joined thousands upon thousands of their countrymen in a labor camp in Siberia.

Ironically, it was a subsequent invasion that would crack open the door to freedom. On June 22, 1941, Hitler ordered his troops to attack Russia; forcing Stalin into embracing the Allies. This political change led to the British government petitioning Russia to release the Polish people, which precipitated a Polish exodus.

While Genowefa embarked on a journey which would eventually lead her to the British colony of Rhodesia for the duration of the war, Joe heard that the British army was organizing able bodied Poles into a division. He immediately volunteered, walking many miles to the recruitment headquarters.

So began a time of travel which would take him to Iran, through the Middle East and into Palestine where his training began. Joe served with valor and in September 1943, when the Allies landed in Italy and pushed their way North, he was there.

It was at the Battle of Monte Cassino that Joe served with distinction. A key defensive position was the abbey located at the summit above the town of Cassino; which Allied leaders suspected was being used as an observation post by the German army. This was an extremely difficult position to attack; three separate battles over the course of five months beginning in January of 1944 and a coordinated bombing run had been unable to bring the summit under Allied control.

The following is an excerpt from “Victory in the Mediterranean, Part 1 – 1st April to 4th June” by British Brigadier General C.J.C. Molony:

“Finally, on May 17, in the fourth and final assault, Polish II Corps launched their second attack on Monte Cassino. Under constant artillery and mortar fire from the strongly fortified German positions, and with little natural cover for protection, the fighting was fierce and at times hand-to-hand. A patrol of Polish 12th Podolian Uhlans Regiment finally made it to the heights and raised the Polish flag over the ruins of the abbey. The only remnants of the defenders were a group of thirty German wounded who were unable to move. The Poles, on their second try, had taken Monte Cassino and the road to Rome was open.”

Joe was a member of that historic patrol that performed the Polish Iwo Jima and has been honored by his native country many times over; including interviews recorded for Polish television.

When the war ended in 1945, Joe was allowed to settle in Yorkshire, England where he was reunited with Genowefa. They were married in 1948 and welcomed their daughter Irene in 1949. Since Genowefa was actually an American citizen born in Chicago, they were finally able to immigrate to the U.S. in 1951. The next year, their son Joseph was born and Joe went to work for Zenith Corporation in Chicago, where he was the senior mechanic for their truck fleet for the next twenty five years.

After seeing one too many Chicago winters, Joe and Genowefa moved to North Lauderdale, Florida in 1981, settling near their daughter Irene. While there, Joe was active in the Polish American club, holding many offices over the years, culminating with being named President in the mid 90s. He also busied himself with many acts of kindness fixing anything with a motor or engine belonging to friends or family.

In 1997, Joe and Genowefa moved to the area just south of Melbourne, Florida. Taking over a two acre property with dense undergrowth, the task of bringing that under control took up a lot of his time. Between visits to the senior citizens club and entertaining family, Joe stayed busy well into his 80s.

Joe and Genowefa returned to Poland periodically over the years and revisited Monte Cassino several times for reunions with his unit. These visits abroad were highlighted by a trip in 2001 to Vatican City for an audience with His Holiness Pope John Paul II, whose given name was Karol Wojtyla, history’s only Polish pope.

Joe will be remembered as an inspiration to all who knew him; who stressed education above all else. His triumph over the most severe adversity while remaining humble and downplaying his accomplishments show us all a path to follow.

Joe is survived by Genowefa, his wife of 66 years; his daughter Irene LaTurno, his son Dr. Joseph Mularczyk, his sister Veronica Mularczyk, his grandchildren Gregory Podkulski, Michael Podkulski, Lisa Podkulski, Joseph Mularczyk and Hannah Mularczyk; his great-grandchildren Dezirae Podkulski, Destiny Podkulski and Trinity Podkulski; his daughter-in-law Andrea Mularczyk and son-in-law Scott LaTurno.