John P. Aszklar

John Paul Aszklar, 94, of Plantsville, CT, died Sunday, Sept. 11, 2011 after a long life well lived.

He was born on July 27, 1917 in Southington to the late Mary (Gomolka) Aszklar and John Michael Aszklar.

John was a man who was always on the go.

As a young man he attended local schools, graduating from Lewis High School in 1934. He worked for the WPA and New Departure Bearing Co. before entering the Army during World War II, where he served in the Western Pacific in Okinawa and Korea.

After the war he was employed by the Plantsville Post Office as a Rural Route Carrier until his retirement in 1977 after 30 years of service. He also owned and operated the Southington Driving School for over 25 years.

He was a communicant of the Immaculate Conception Church and a member of the church choir.

He was a member of The Polish Falcons Nest 307, American Legion Post 72, and The Calendar House.

During his retirement he made several trips to Europe, spending most of his time discovering his ancestral cousins in the hills of Poland. Other notable trips included the New England Coast and the Gaspe Peninsula in Canada. John also traveled to the western United States and became fascinated with and a supporter of sculptor Kozczak Ziolkowski's efforts to carve the image of Crazy Horse from a mountain in the Black Hills of South Dakota. He loved to polka dance and spend time at the Falcon Club enjoying a game of cards and a beer.

Uncle John, as he was affectionately called by his nieces and nephews, enjoyed wood working and was considered a jack of all trades. He lived in his family homestead all his life and took great pride in making additions and improvements to it. He shared his skills with his nephews and helped build many a garage or deck with or for them. One of his proudest accomplishments was the building of roof top cupolas for himself and several of his nephews. He based his plans on a horse barn located on Eden Ave that was located along his driving school route. They will stand as a fitting tribute to a man who was loved for his generosity and sense of adventure. He was revered by his family as a strong and indpendent individual who lived a long and fruitful life and will be missed by all who knew him.

He is survived by his sister Jennie Czarnecki and Nell Mikulak and her husband Joseph.

He also leaves behind three nieces, thirteen nephews, several grandnieces, grandnephews, and many cousins.

Finally he leaves behind his long-time girlfriend and polka partner, Frances Renkiewicz.

He was predeceased by his two sisters Virginia Martin and Frances Shaw and brother-in-laws Ted Czarnecki, Louis Martin, and Raymond Shaw.

A gathering will begin at 9:00 A.M. on Thur. Sept 15 from the Plantsville Funeral Home, 975 S. Main St., Plantsville, with a mass of Christian burial at 10:00 A.M. at the Immaculate Conception Church, 130 Summer St., Southington. Burial with full military honors will follow in Immaculate Conception Cemetery, Southington. Relatives and friends are invited to visit with John's family from 4 to 7pm on Wed., Sept. 14 at the funeral home.

His family wishes to thank the staff at Mulberry Gardens and The Southington Care Center for their care and support. Special thank you to the staff of the Tranquill Passages program at The Southington Care Center. In lieu of flowers, gifts can be made in John's memory to the Tranquill Passages program, Southington Care Center, 45 Meriden Ave., Southington, CT 06489. For online condolences and directions please visit www.plantsvillefuneralhome.com.

FUNERAL SERVICES

A gathering will begin at 9:00 A.M. on Thur. Sept 15 from the Plantsville Funeral Home, 975 S. Main St., Plantsville, with a mass of Christian burial at 10:00 A.M. at the Immaculate Conception Church, 130 Summer St., Southington. Burial with full military honors will follow in Immaculate Conception Cemetery, Southington. Relatives and friends are invited to visit with John's family from 4 to 7pm on Wed., Sept. 14 at the funeral home.

His family wishes to thank the staff at Mulberry Gardens and The Southington Care Center for their care and support. Special thank you to the staff of the Tranquill Passages program at The Southington Care Center. In lieu of flowers, gifts can be made in John's memory to the Tranquill Passages program, Southington Care Center, 45 Meriden Ave., Southington, CT 06489.