Mildred L. Szymczyk

Mildred was born Sept. 27, 1926, in Huntingdon,Tenn.,, the daughter of George and Martha Alice (Arnold) Arnold. Mildred grew up in Tennessee with her nine siblings before moving to Chicago and meeting her husband, Henry Szymczyk. Millie was a stay at home mother and devoted her life to raising her seven children.

In 1991, Millie retired to Escanaba with her Down Syndrome son, John, where she devoted the remainder of her life to John’s care. Mildred was a devout Catholic and loved to attend mass with John and her many friends. She enjoyed spending time with friends and family when they came to visit.

In addition to her husband, Henry, Millie is survived by: children, Carol (Joseph) Kiernicki of Sheboygan, Wis., Henry (Sandra) Simms of LockPort, Ill., Susane (Anthony) Reitz of Shorewood, Ill.., James Szymczyk of Crest Hill, Ill., MaryAlice (Sigmund) Nosalski of Evergreen Park, Ill. and John Szymczyk of Gladstone, Mich.; two brothers, George (Betty) Arnold and Willie (Jan) Arnold; two sisters, Covey (Bill) Flowers and Joyce Zimmerman; grandchildren, Dawn Schmitz, James (Paula) Malanowski, Lyn Reitz, Chad Diaz, Christopher Reitz, Shonice Brown, Jeff Simms,Crystal (Brian) Lobianco, Estee (Dave) Mohrs, Jessica Heintz, Justin (Melissa) Simms, Travis Nosalski, JC Kiernicki, Ian Szymczyk, Geina (Brad) Sebak, Kimber Nosalski and Sharie (Scott) Schraub; great-grandchildren, Michael Jr., Timothy, Christopher and Brittany Schmitz, James Jr., Cody, and Kaitlin Malanowski, Julia, Nick, Alex Brown and Lexis Simms, Annabelle, Landon and Caelyn Simms, Joey, Haley and Sara Wilbanks, Henry and Adeline Simms, Jack and Ashley Schraub, Alyssa, Anthony, Tegan and Payton Reitz, Tatum,Christopher and Madison Reitz, Max, Ariana and Carissa Diaz, Julieann Lobianco, Joshua Mohrs, Dominic Nava; great-great-grandchildren, Jack and Ella Schmitz, Norman Vereecki, Daylon and Taylor Martin, and Ellie Schraub. In addition to her parents, Mildred was preceded in death by her daughter, Cheryl Penson.

Family will receive friends Friday, Dec. 29, at the Skradski Funeral Home in Escanaba from noon until 3 p.m. A funeral service will follow visiting hours at 3 p.m. with Rev. Fr. Emmett Norden officiating. Inurnment will take place in the spring at Holy Cross Cemetery in Escanaba. The Skradski Family Funeral Homes of Delta County are assisting the Szymczyk family. Please visit www.skradskifuneralhomes.com where you can leave a message of condolence to the family.