Barry R. Gwizdala

January 24, 1949 - February 14, 2019

Barry R. Gwizdala, age 70, of Richmond, IL, passed away Thursday, February 14, 2019 at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago. He was born in Bay City, Michigan on January 24, 1949, a son of the late Peter and Dolores (Gosler) Gwizdala. He was a graduate of Richmond-Burton High School in 1967. He was married to Eileen May on April 15, 1972, in Richmond, IL. He served in the U.S. Army Engineers in Vietnam as a SP/4 from Feb. 1970 to Oct. 1971, receiving the Purple Heart and Bronze Star and was very proud of the combat infantry badge he received. He worked as a tile setter/carpet layer for Kadisak Tile in McHenry for 20 years, retiring in 2010. He was a former member of McHenry VFW and a charter member of the Richmond Jaycees. He was a lifelong Democrat. He enjoyed fishing adventures on Lake Michigan and summers at the cottage on Hamlin Lake in Ludington, Michigan. And when he wasn’t busy planning the next vacation spot for his grandchildren to enjoy, he spent time watching their many sporting events. In the winter he even asked that a webcam be installed so he could watch them ice skating from his favorite chair. Barry is survived by his wife Eileen; a daughter, Erin (Kurt) Tassone; two sons Ty Gwizdala, and Josh Gwizdala, all Twin Lakes, WI; three grandchildren Jack, Pete and Allie Tassone; a sister, Judy (James) Canary, of Sand Point, MI; a brother, Timothy (Joan) Gwizdala, of Rockford, IL; sister-in-law Judy Gwizdala, brothers-in-law Dennis Komar and Carl Metz plus many nieces and nephews and their families. He was preceded by his parents, two sisters Tamara Komar and Marilyn Metz and a brother Peter Gwizdala II. Memorial visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. until the Celebration of Life at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, February 23, 2019 at Ehorn-Adams Funeral Home 10011 Main St, Richmond, IL with military honors following. Inurnment will be in Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, VA at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions to Daniel May Memorial Scholarship Fund, % Eileen Gwizdala P. O. Box 186 Richmond, IL 60071.