Michael L. Dzurenda

Michael Leo Dzurenda, 90, passed away on Sunday, December 25, 2016. He was born on September 6, 1926 to August and Johanna Dzurenda in Oneida, Pennsylvania. The family moved to a farm in Pennsburg, Pennsylvania along with their five children: his older sister, Mary and younger brothers, Joe, Tom and John. Soon after the move, August ‘Auggie’ died of silicosis, black lung disease, common to miners in the anthracite coal mining industry. Johanna, faced with the unmanageable task of raising the family alone, found help through the then, famous prep school…Girard College. The school accepted Mike along with his brothers, Joe and Tom and provided their nurturing and opportunities beyond Johanna’s expectations. Mike acquired an interest in math and mechanical engineering in his studies as well as a life-long interest in athletics. Mike played forward position on Girard’s national championship soccer team as well as participating in baseball and basketball. As a 1943 graduate, Mike went on to make use of his machinist skills acquired at Girard and worked for both, Dolder Dye and Baldwin Heavy Industries before deciding to continue his education at Penn State. After a single semester, Mike answered the call to arms by enlisting in the Navy for two years. His assignment was the Pacific arena where he remained on the island base at Saipan. On his return to civilian life, Mike renewed attendance at Penn State, initially at the satellite campus in York, Pennsylvania. Fortune smiled again and Mike met Betty Messinger of York, Pennsylvania. They courted even after Mike transferred to the main campus and took up residence in Happy Valley at the Triangles Fraternity. Their love for each other grew, in spite of living apart. But that all ended happily upon graduation (1951) when they decided to marry on June 14. The couple began their family life in Charleston, West Virginia where Mike accepted his first assignment with Union Carbide. They were blessed with two children, Carolyn and Stephen. Carolyn reached her majority while the family was in Houston and remained there for attendance at the University of Houston. Stephen remained at home. Mike's later assignments with ‘Carbide’ were in Houston and finally in Victoria, Texas. On ‘retirement’ Mike became a consulting engineer and owner of Gulf Coast Plant Engineering, Inc., operating out of Victoria and serving plants in the Seadrift area as well as a multitude of private clients.

Mike is survived by his daughter, Carolyn Thompson and husband Phillip of Bee Cave, Texas and son, Stephen Dzurenda of Laredo, Texas; granddaughter, Courtney Thompson Morley and husband Chris of Kyle, Texas and Mike’s prettiest little girls in Texas, granddaughters, Brenna, Evelyn and Chloe.

The family will gather for a visitation from 6 to 8 pm on Thursday, December 29, 2016 at Colonial Funeral Home, 1801 E. Red River Street, Victoria, Texas 77901. Burial will be held at a later date in Pennsylvania. In memory of Michael, memorial donations may be made to St. Martin De Porres Church, 26160 Ranch Road 12, Dripping Springs, Texas 78620.