Mr. Richard Andrew Bednarcik

Richard Andrew Bednarcik, 87, of Port Charlotte FL passed away on Feb 23 2015. Born in Harvey, Illinois, he was a graduate of Thornton Township High School in Harvey. Like his father, he enlisted in the Marines in 1945 until his honorable discharge in 1949.

In 1949, he proudly worked with his father, Andrew, for the American Bridge Company and the Midwest Operating Engineers, Local 150 of Illinois, until 1983. He then worked for the Charlotte County Public Schools for another 10 years until he retired in 1993. In between, Richard moved to Port Charlotte Florida in 1975 to open the original Mister Donut with his brother in law, Ken DeVries, but returned back to Illinois in 1978 to finish his career with the Midwest Operating Engineers. He was also a member of the American Legion Post 110 in Port Charlotte FL and a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

He was of the Christian faith and was a devoted man to God and Country. While in the U.S. Marine Corp he served in the Pacific Area from 1946-1948, taking part in the occupation of China in 1946. He was "One of the Chosen Few" and was always ready to share his stories from his days in the military and Tientsin, China.

An avid outdoorsman and fisherman, Richard loved his family, nature, animals, & ice cream. His passion in life was musky fishing in St. Germain, Wisconsin on Dam Lake at his in-laws, "Three D's Resort", to which his family was all blessed to have enjoyed. You could always find him in his yard, planting trees and gardening, especially on his acreage in Georgia. Richard enjoyed watching military documentaries and a good western show or movie with the cowboy theme. John Wayne and Gunsmoke's Matt Dillon were by far, his all-time favorites.

He is survived by his devoted wife of 65 years, Hilda Bednarcik (nee DeVries), three children, Claudia Ann (Smoot) Croxton of Fort Payne, Alabama, Richard Keith Bednarcik of Chattanooga, Tn., and Cynthia Lynn (John) Weant of Port Charlotte, Fl; he had 6 grandchildren, Ryan Smoot of Chattanooga, Tn., Carly (Lee) Curry of Richmond, Va., Clint Croxton of Fort Payne, Alabama, Andrew Bednarcik, of Chattanooga, Tn, Matthew Croxton of Ellijay, Ga, and Grant Gaudry of Port Charlotte, Fl.; step granddaughter, Shannon (nee Byington) Johnson of Dalton, Ga. ; 3 Great Grandchildren, Harrison Scott of Chattanooga, Tn., Logan Curry and Landon Curry of Richmond, Va. His 4th great grandson, Lucas Richard Curry, will be born in July. Richard is also survived by his brother, John Bednarcik of Lemont, Illinois and good friend & former son-in-law, Richard Gaudry of Port Charlotte, and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Andrew and Edna Bednarcik of Harvey, Illinois and brother, Kenneth Bednarcik of Glenwood, Ill.