Joseph Lopienski

Joseph P. Lopienski, age 88, passed away on April 10, 2011 at Worthington Christian Village in Worthington, Ohio. Joe was born on April 29th, 1922 in Akron, Ohio to the late Stanley and Anna Lopienski who immigrated from Poland in the early 1900’s. He also had one sister, the late Mary Murawski. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Esther Lopienski (Augustynovich) and his children Timothy (Uniontown, Oh), Chris (Harrisburg, Pa), Teresa Widdecombe (husb. Ashley - Plymouth, England) and Catherine (Laura Atkinson - Lewis Center, Ohio). Joe is also survived by his grandchildren Sarah A., Thomas J., Jonathan, Gregory, Chelsie, Benjamin, Dwayne Reese, Pierce Widdecombe as well as extended family member Cora Dion. Joe lived the majority of his life in Akron, Ohio where he graduated from Garfield High School and was a member of St. Hedwig Polish Catholic Church, The Polish Legion of American Veterans Post 32, The Pilsudski Club and The Polish National Alliance. He was a WWII veteran who served in the US Navy as an Aviation Machinist’s Mate, Second Class. In 1978, he retired from Firestone Tire and Rubber Company. While his children attended Archbishop Hoban High School, Joe and his wife Esther were active in the school’s Booster Club, Oktoberfest and volunteered on bingo nights. Joe was very proud of his Polish heritage and he was affectionately referred to as “Dziadek” (grandfather in Polish) by his family. He loved his wife, children and grandchildren, polka music, sports, a good cup of coffee, scotch whiskey, military history and a good joke. He will be sadly missed by his family. A viewing will be held on Thursday, April 14th from 5-6pm only at Schoedinger Funeral Service’s Worthington Chapel in Worthington, Ohio. He will be buried on Friday, April 15th at 9:30am at Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery in Rittman, Ohio with military honors. In lieu of flowers donations can be made in his name to The Breathing Association Lung Health Clinic, 1520 old Henderson Rd, Columbus, Ohio 43220. (www.breathingassociation.org)