Larry J. Bronikowski

Larry Julian Bronikowski was born in Houston on 2/26/43, the only son of Frank Julian and Lucille Rosie Bronikowski (nee Balcerowicz). He married his beloved late wife Carolyn Marie (nee Wilson) on 8/28/65 and they were blessed with two lovely daughters Sharilyn Marie Johnson and Shana Kathleen Small. Larry and Carolyn also became the proud grandparents of Faith Johnson and Dylan, Juliet and Jackson Small.

Larry graduated from St. Pius High School in Houston in 1961 and did honorable service in the Army Airborne and the Army National Guard. He studied Accounting Management at the University of Houston and earned his BS in Accounting from Florida Southern College. Larry was employed as a Warehouse and Inventory Control Manager for several food service and retail companies including Tropicana, Coca Cola, Toys R Us and Sysco Foods. He was a disciplined athlete who ran daily, participated in marathons and played tennis at every opportunity. Larry was also a successful investor, following the stock markets, reading financial literature and watching ‘Wall Street Week’ every evening. In addition, he was a builder, handyman, gardener, artist, musician and devoted family man – the WHOLE Package! Larry and his family moved to Windermere, Florida in 1989 and resided there for over 25 years. Carolyn tragically passed away in March 2016 after a long illness during which Larry was her primary caregiver.

In April 2017, Larry met Ellen Marie Wall (nee Eversley) on a trip to Tarpon Springs arranged by the Holy Family ‘Fun After Fifty’ club. Ellen sensed that Larry was a very special Southern gentleman and enjoyed listening to his smooth Texas drawl. After 11 months of dating, including several concerts and trips to Treasure Island, Mount Dora and Amelia Island in Larry’s C6 Corvette, they got engaged on Christmas day 2017. They were married at Holy Family in Orlando on 7/28/18.

After their July 2018 marriage, Larry moved up to Oviedo and became a parishioner at Most Precious Blood Catholic Church. They developed friendships with several neighbors with whom they played Bunko and Dominoes regularly. They also belonged to the Corvette Club of Orlando, the Central Florida Corvette Association and the Holy Family ‘Fun After Fifty’ club and Grief group. Larry and Ellen have been blessed with wonderful friendships, memories and support from these groups. In June 2022, they were able to go on their very FIRST cruise. They loved sailing to Alaska on the Royal Princess and enjoyed the land tour as well at the lodges in Mt. McKinley, Denali National Park and Anchorage. It was definitely a HIGHLIGHT of their time together.

Larry is survived by his wife Ellen Marie, daughters Sharilyn Marie Johnson and Shana Kathleen Small, son-in-law Brian Small, grandsons Dylan and Jackson Small, granddaughters Juliet Small and Faith Johnson, cousins Evelyn Rosenbaum and Mike Balcerowicz, nieces Carol and Mary Elskes, niece Sheryl, mother-in-law Kay Eversley, step-daughter Amanda Wall, brother-in-law Edward Eversley, sisters-in-law Julie Buys and Jeanne Eversley and their respective family members.

Larry is predeceased by his father Frank Julian, mother Lucille Rosie, sister Maryann Elskes, cousin Betty Ann Matthews (nee Balcerowicz) and uncles Pete, Max, Stanley and Stephen Balcerowicz.