Dennis Paul Wozniak, 71, of Rolling Prairie, Ind., passed away suddenly on Friday, Nov. 13, 2020.
He was born Nov. 6, 1949, in La Porte, Ind., to James and Joan (Conjalka) Wozniak.
Dennis was retired from NIPSCO, where he served in engineering, marketing, management, as a supervisor, and as a government project engineer. He had previously worked with Olin Mathieson and Electro Voice. He taught electrical high voltage at Ivy Tech.
He was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, where he was a choir member, a cantor, member of the liturgical group and the building committee, the electrician for the Polish Festivals, and a Polish folk dancer.
He and his wife Mary together loved restoring cars and anything electrical, which were his hobbies. They loved to travel to Poland and cruise around the world. He was a member of PNA 1120 of La Porte, past president; president of Council 197, District 15 director, and a PNA insurance agent. He served on the board of directors of the Hesston Museum and was an electrical advisor and assistant treasurer. He was a member of the Cavaliers, where he played the accordion and organ. He graduated from Rolling Prairie High School in 1967 and Purdue in 1971.
Please note to all who called and wanted to talk to him and he told you that he was tired or weak: He was very weak to talk, it took all his energy out of him. But he wanted to as soon as he could get some strength in him. His friends meant a lot to him. Hearing your voices gave him the encouragement to get better and be with you each in your respective organizations. He told me he felt bad to tell you each that. Please remember his great spirit in life, his smile, his blue eyes, his tenderness and firmness, his helpfulness to others first, his love of God, Jesus and the peace made if it’s His will to take him sooner than later, and always his work to be safe and to be honest with integrity.
Dennis had a wonderful sense of humor, a great smile, and was quick witted.
On Jan. 24, 1970, Dennis married Mary Sophia (Duda), who survives with their children, Leah (Dan III) Anderson of Lakeland, Fla., Paul (Tina) Wozniak of Zanesville, Oh., and Lana (Patrick) Wooden of Fishers, Ind.; grandchildren, Daniel IV, Joshua, Leo and James Anderson and Katherine and Brianna Wooden; a sister, Terry Joan Wozniak of New York, NY; sisters-in-law, Jeni Fhilip of La Porte and Teresa (Terry) Winn of La Porte; brother-in-law, Joseph (Penny) Duda of Mill Creek, Ind.; nieces and nephews; and friends he thought of as brothers, Cliff, Rich and many others.
Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 18, at Frank L. Keszei Funeral Home, Essling Chapel, La Porte. Family and friends may also visit Thursday, Nov. 19, from 9 to 10:30 a.m. in the funeral home. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 19, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in La Porte. Rev. Ian Williams will officiate. Burial will follow in Pine Lake Cemetery, La Porte.
Due to Covid-19, everyone attending must wear a mask and only 50 people at a time may enter the funeral home or church.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Sacred Heart Parish Building Fund, or the Food Pantry, 201 Bach St., La Porte, Ind. 46350.
Messages of condolence may be posted below on WNLP as well as at www.esslingfuneralhome.com.