Harold Maslanik was born February 25, 1925, in Detroit, Michigan to Simon Joseph Maslanik and Anna Szatrak, the eighth child of a family of twelve children. Four died as infants, Ludovic, Josephine, Caroline, and Chester, four predeceased him, Theodore, Rudolph, and Stanley Maslanik, and Lillian Vincent. Three survive him, Bernard Maslanik and Loretta McKeegan, both of the Detroit area, and Fredrick Maslanik of Franktown.
Harold grew up in Imaly City, Michigan. He volunteered for the Army Air Corps in 1943 and became a flight engineer on B-24’s, “The Liberator.” Following his honorable discharge March 17, 1946, he completed high school and attended college on the GI Bill at Wayne University. He graduated with a BS in Business Administration February 1950. He always felt very fortunate to have the opportunity to earn his degree.
A job with Briggs Manufacturing brought him to Denver, Colorado in 1952. He was joined by his bride, Julia Anne Lilley, after they married on October 11,1952 and had three children, Anne, John, and Michael. Because he was part of a large immigrant family whose parents had both died by the mid 1940’s, the older siblings had to help raise the younger ones. Harold contributed to that effort and his teenage brother Fred joined them in Colorado. Throughout his life Harold remained supportive of his extended family.
Harold and Julia purchased an interest in a plumbing and heating wholesale firm, McMillan Sales Corporation, in the early 1960’s. Eventually buying out the founders after several years, he spent the remainder of his professional career managing and growing this into a successful business.
He and Julia traveled extensively in the past 40 years; Europe, Asia, Australia and New Zealand, and they took each of their grandchildren on a special trip. Harold’s interest in education led him to fund each of his grandchildren’s college educations. What a wonderful gift! He once told a grandson that, “Life is about challenges”. He lived by this philosophy.
In addition to his siblings and many nieces and nephews, Harold is survived by his wife of 69 years, his three children, ten grandchildren, and fifteen great grandchildren.
DONATIONS
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18