Henryk K Ufnal

Henryk K. "Henry" Ufnal, 85, of 153 Willis Road, Gardner died peacefully Saturday, February 5, 2011 in Wachusett Manor Nursing Home, Gardner surrounded by his family, following a long illness.
Born in Wegrow, Poland on January 2, 1926, he was the son of the late Joseph and Kazimiera (Golos) Ufnal.
Henry was raised on his family's Flour Mill Estate in Wegrow, Poland, and attended primary school in Poland. He and his family were involved with secretly storing and smuggling medical supplies to those in need during WWII and for several years following the war. Henry was captured while crossing the Iron Curtain for the second time and was sent to a Siberian detention camp. He eventually escaped and crossed the Alps on his way to Iran where he joined the United States Army as an interpreter and tank mechanic. He was a WWII United States Army Veteran and received the Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the WWII Army of Occupation Medal and the Expert Marksman Award. He also took several electronic correspondence courses including Bell & Howell School of Electronics.
Henry was employed by Collier-Keyworth Company of Gardner as a Production Line Supervisor for several years, retiring in 1991.
He was a member of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Church, Gardner. Henry was also a member of the Gardner Chapter of AARP, American Legion, AMVETS and Polish American Veterans of Greater Gardner.
Henry enjoyed farming, raising farm animals, bee keeping, horticulture, fixing sewing machines and polka dancing. He treasured time spent with his family.
Henry leaves his wife of 55 years, Eleanor R. (Dehais) Ufnal of Gardner; two sons, Major USAF Retired Michael H. Ufnal and his wife Karen of Milford, NH and Joseph M. Ufnal of Gardner; four daughters, Mary Lou Hopun and her husband Javier of Beavercreek, OH, Barbara H. Crete and her husband Jason of Gardner, Carolyn J. Tobia and her husband Geoff of Westminster and Diane M. Ufnal and Tony Pilat of Rindge, NH; one sister, Danuta Suwala of Wegrow, Poland; eleven grandchildren, Courtney M. Ufnal, Stephen M. Ufnal, Emily A. Wolcott and her husband Ensign Rob Wolcott, Alyssa M., Alexandra I. and Amanda N. Hopun, Matthew J. and Elizabeth A. Crete, Geoffrey J. and Jack N. Tobia, Kassandra M. Rondeau and her husband Paul; three great-grandchildren, Joseph M. Perez-Crete, Gianalys Cabrera-Crete and Elismari Cabrera-Crete; several nieces, nephews and cousins. He was predeceased by two brothers, Eugene and Yanoush Ufnal.
Funeral Services will be held Thursday, February 10th at 11:00 a.m. in Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Church, 135 Nichols Street, Gardner. Burial will be in St. Joseph's Cemetery, Gardner.
Calling hours in the funeral home are Wednesday, February 9th from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, Massachusetts Chapter, 311 Arsenal Street, Watertown, MA 02472.

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