In loving memory of
John Siczka

• December 06, 1932
• -
• June 04, 2022

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John Siczka, beloved husband, father, and grandfather passed away on June 4, 2022, in The Villages, FL surrounded by his loving family. He was born in Wilmington, Delaware in 1932 to Ukrainian immigrant parents, Katherine and Harry Siczka. John often shared fond memories of growing up in his Ukrainian community, learning Ukrainian dancing, hanging out with the Firemen at the Fire Station, participating in crazy antics with his many childhood friends, and playing basketball at the South Wilmington Ukrainian Club, as well as for the Varsity Team at Wilmington High School. As an adolescent and young man, John delivered papers and worked at his Cousin Charlie Siczka’s bakery in Wilmington. A lover of education and learning, John won the American Legion Award in junior high for the highest academics.

John was the first in his family to attend college. He graduated with a BS in Chemical Engineering in 1954 and was a member of Phi Kappa Tau fraternity. After college, he served two years in the United States Army in Germany as a radio morse code operator. While serving, he continued athletics, enjoying track and field, especially the hurdles, in addition to traveling extensively around Europe. He met his wife, Christine Thea Sundt, when he returned to the University of Delaware for graduate studies. They enjoyed just shy of 62 years of marriage, raising three children in the far-flung states of Maryland, Delaware, Montana, Florida, and Pennsylvania.

For most of his career, John pursued manufacturing management in paper, plastics and chemicals. He began his engineering career at Haveg Chemical Corp. in Wilmington, DE and honed his skills at West Virginia Pulp and Paper (Luke, MD), Hoerner Waldorf Corp. (Missoula, MT), Royalty Industries (Miami, FL), and Hercules and Schneider (Pittsburgh, PA). Later in his career, John utilized his engineering experience by working in the IRS Engineering Valuation Department in Cincinnati, OH.

John loved outdoor recreation including: building and sailing his own Sailfish sailboat, snorkeling, teaching his kids to downhill ski, shooting baskets, and playing wiffle ball with his son and their dogs, Snuggles and Hannah. Other interests included Toastmasters, playing bridge, the Pittsburgh Wine and Dine Club, the Band Parents Association, pop up camper camping, and church activities. His favorite pastimes were traveling (recorded on his camcorder) and dancing with his wife. John was an active member of both Methodist and Presbyterian congregations over the years, teaching children’s Sunday School, serving as a deacon, and running the unemployment group. Upon retiring to The Villages in 2004, he enjoyed all types of social groups and was a Villages Senior Games participant. At his most recent church home, Northlake Presbyterian Church, he and his wife ran the Sunday Service greeters program for many years, started the couples bridge group, and volunteered with Operation Homebound delivering meals.

Many will remember John for his ability to strike up in-depth conversations with anyone, and his uncanny ability to remember people and facts in detail from decades ago! In recent years, he could often be seen cutting his lawn, hot gluing something, or gleefully riding his bike through the neighborhood. His children will fondly remember his participation in all their diverse activities including: endless dance recitals and church choir performances, twirling, marching band, scouts, basketball, soccer, and skiing. John thoroughly enjoyed making Christmas magical for his children – the “Ho, Ho, Ho, Merry Christmas! This is Santa Claus!” of Santa’s voice on the family tape recorder Christmas morning will never be forgotten, nor will wrestling matches in bed on Saturday mornings, or the many Disney adventures! His grandchildren will treasure the many trips they enjoyed together including large family reunions, overseas travel in England and Japan, beach holidays, and numerous local sightseeing adventures. John was a true family man, as he was proactively involved with his wife, children, and grandchildren in all of their activities!

John is survived by his wife Christine Sundt Siczka; daughters Sharon (John) Campbell of Evanston, IL, and Debra (Bob) Kropiewnicki of Winterville, NC; son John S. (Annalisa) Siczka of Fox Point, WI; and seven grandchildren Jack, Alex, Tyler, Ben, Jacob, Kellen, and Molly. He was preceded in death by his two sisters Estelle Wisniewski (Townsend, DE) and Anne Friel (Wilmington, DE).

A Celebration of Life service will be held on August 4, 2022, at 10 am at Northlake Presbyterian Church in Lady Lake, FL, and his remains will be interred at 2 pm at the Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, FL. Arrangements entrusted with BALDWIN BROTHERS Funeral & Cremation Society-Spanish Springs, 352-480-5959. Sentiments may be left online at www.baldwincremation.com.