Edward Wisniewski Obituary

Edward Henry Wisniewski April 30, 1922-March 27, 2013 Preston- Edward Henry Wisniewski passed away on March 27, 2013 at home in Preston, just a stone's throw from the farmhouse he was born in 91 years ago. The son of Wladyslaw and Dominica (Rutkowska) Wisniewski he was born on April 30, 1922. Ed attended the Palmer School, a one room school house in Preston. He spent his childhood with his 5 brothers and 4 sisters. He built a pond by hand, ordered pet foxes through the mail, and made his own cigarettes out of oak leaves; it's a wonder he lived as long as he did. He went on to Norwich Free Academy. His last day of school was the day of the 1938 hurricane. The storm did such damage on his family's farm that Ed left school to help with the cleanup and rebuilding. In WWII Ed proudly served in the Navy from 1944-1946. He served on The USS Pasadena which patrolled the Pacific and shelled Iwo Jima for 2 weeks prior to the landing of the Marines. Ed returned home to Preston where he met Betty Banas of Norwich at a dance at Polonia Park. Ed and Betty married on November 22, 1947 and they raised 6 children together in Preston. He was a wonderful husband to Betty for over 65 years. He routinely picked flowers for her from their yard, filling vases all over the house. Right up until the end he could be caught holding hands with his "girl". Ed worked for American Thermos for 42 years. In his retirement Ed became an accomplished clocksmith. Ed passed along to his family the things that were important to him: Despite having only one year of high school education, he had a love of learning and worked hard to ensure that all 6 of his children received a college education. He had an endless curiosity of nature and made careful observations of his beloved woods. Ed got a kick out of blasting the weekly polka show on the radio, which always gave him a spring in his step. He loved to dance, especially in his top hat and tails. No one was better at spinning a partner during a polka than Ed. Whether it was learning something new, licking a plate clean after a slice of homemade pie, or spending time with his family, you could tell Ed truly loved life, "You betcha." Ed is survived by his wife, Elizabeth, of Preston, 6 children, Richard Wisniewski and his wife, Terry, of Norwich, Edward Wisniewski and his wife, Barbara, of Bozrah, CT, Marianne Byrne and her husband, David, of Prospect, CT, Kathleen Jaycox of Carbondale, CO, Susan Wisniewski of Beacon, NY, and Christine Wisniewski and her husband Paul Greenspan, of Sudbury, MA, 10 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren, 1 sister, Martha Janciewicz, of Norwich, 2 brothers, Paul Wisniewski of Fort Meyers, FL, and Walter Wisniewski of Preston. Visitation on Sunday from 5pm to 7pm at Labenski Funeral Home, 107 Boswell Ave., Norwich, followed by a mass Monday at 2pm at St. Joseph Church on Cliff Street. Please meet directly at the church for the funeral mass. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Ed's name to the Norwich Free Academy Foundation, Inc. 321 Broadway, Norwich, CT 06360