Robert Henry Szymanski

Robert Henry Szymanski, age 89, of Gulfport, died Monday, August 17, 2009 in the home where he was born. He had been a resident of Gulfport for most of his life. He was a member of St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Gulfport. Mr. Szymanski was a retired shift supervisor for Mississippi Power Company where he was employed for over 34 years. He was a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. He was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II. During his retirement he enjoyed building furniture, fishing, and spending time with his family and friends who likewise enjoyed his humorous stories and incredible sense of humor. He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert Henry Szymanski, Sr. and Hilda Augusta Iversen Szymanski; and a brother, Richard Szymanski. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Dorothy Marie Walters Szymanski of Gulfport; two daughters, Margaret (Bill) Jenkins and Barbara (Barry) Marshall all of Gulfport; a son, David (C.J.) Szymanski of Forest City, NC; six grandchildren, Blake (Tiffany) Jenkins of Birmingham, AL, Karen (Henry) Hewes of Gulfport, Jason (Amy) Olivieri of Atlantic Beach, FL, Jennifer (Scott) Yanklowitz of Chicago, Il, Zoe' (Derek) Rico of McKinney, TX, and Shella Szymanski of Houston, TX; and four great-grandchildren, Elle and Clara Jenkins of Birmingham, Lola Rose Olivieri of Atlantic Beach, FL, and arriving soon Baby Girl Yanklowitz of Chicago. The funeral service will be Thursday, August 20, 2009 at 3:00 p.m. at Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Home, 15th Street, Gulfport, where friends may visit from 2:00 p.m. until the service. Interment will follow at Evergreen Cemetery, Gulfport. His family wishes to extend special thanks to Memorial Hospice and to his caregivers of The Good Life Home Care, Cheri and Robert Karney, Barbara Jefferson, Sara Ladner, Brianna Tingley, Kimberly Young, and Clara Vella. The family prefers memorials to St. Matthew Lutheran Church, 1301 31st Avenue, Gulfport, MS 39501. View and sign register book at www.bradfordokeefe.com