Henry Wladyslaw Meresz's Obituary
MERESZ, Henry Władysław
Henry W. Meresz, age 87, of Coloma, WI was born Nov. 9, 1928 in Cherbourg, France and died peacefully in his sleep May 24, 2016 at Rosemore Village in Wild Rose, WI after a brief and sudden illness. He was preceded in death by parents, Adam and Stefania Meresz, his best friend Mitchell (Mike) Dudziak, and close friends Walter and Lola Plocharczyk and George Basinski.
Henry is survived by lifelong friends Barbara Basinski of Schamburg, IL, Maria Dudziak of Summerville, SC and Michał Schneider of Chicago, IL. He is also survived by Barbara and Maria’s children, Eva (Steve) East and Terri Ring of Schaumburg, IL; Ann Basinski of North Hollywood, CA; Zosia (Keith) Koehler of Summerville, SC; his Godson Kris (Gina) Dudziak of Burnsville, MN; Mark (Melody) Dudziak of Jefferson, GA; the Polak, Plussa, Lorenc and Ziemlo families of Chicago, IL, and many others.
Henry attended his first four grades of elementary school in Poland. He enlisted in the Polish Armed Forces in Marseille, France in 1945, where he was assigned to the 3rd Division of Polish 2nd Corps in Italy. Henry was transferred to Palestine (present day Israel) at the end of WWII (May 1945) to complete school. This was, according to Henry, “after someone at the top realized and wisely decided that Meresz, being underage, had no business to be in the army in the first place.”
Exceptional at engineering and mathematics, Henry earned a Mechanical Engineering degree from the Royal Melbourne Technical College in Australia in 1958 and would later become a patent holder for several inventions, including the rotary plate and bowl clamp for blood centrifuge in 1998.
An avid world traveler, Henry lived in France, Poland, Italy, Palestine, Egypt, England, Argentina, Australia, Canada and the United States, becoming a U.S. citizen in 1960, living in Chicago, IL then Coloma, WI. Henry enjoyed cook-outs, travel, classical music, cross-country and downhill skiing, nature photography, reading, and hearty conversation.
Henry was a mild-mannered, gentle man whose quick wit and great intellect were admired by all who knew him. Accordingly, Godson Kris Dudziak’s eldest son, Stefan Henry Dudziak, was named in honor of Mr. Henry Meresz.
In accordance with Henry’s wishes, a memorial service will not be held. Henry will be buried, alongside his beloved mother, in Poland. In lieu of memorials, kindly remember Henry to one another in hearty conversation or raise a glass and toast his memory.
Henry’s loved ones thank those who cared for him in his final days at Rosemore Village and Wild Rose Community Memorial Hospital in Wild Rose, WI. Special thanks to the staff of Agnesian Hospice Hope.
The AJ Holly & Sons Funeral Home assisted with Henry’s final arrangements.
Rest in peace, dear Henry. You are loved and will be forever missed.
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