John S. Kendzel

John S. Kendzel, 57, of Lorain, died on Sunday, December 7, 2008 at University Hospital of Cleveland, following an 18-month fight against brain cancer. John was born on February 17, 1951 in Lorain, attended St. Stanislaus grade school and graduated from St. Mary High School in 1969. An active football player and scout, he played on the 1968-1969 St. Mary football team which was inducted into the Lorain Sports Hall of Fame in 2006. He also achieved the rank of Eagle Scout and was awarded the Catholic Scout Award Ad Alphase Dei. John received an Associate of Applied Science in Electronic Engineering Technology from Lorain County Community College in 1981 and a Building Engineer's Certificate from the Westside Institute of Technology in 1987. He was also a certified Third Class Stationary Engineer in the State of Ohio and a Universal Refrigerant Recovery Agent. John was also ordained as a Minister of Awareness in the Aquarian Church of Universal Services in 1985. He worked for the US Steel Company in Lorain as a laborer from 1973-1982, then as a sheet metal worker for Luxury Heating in Elyria from 1984-1987. More recently, he was a Stationary Engineer and HVAC Technician at Republic Engineered Products in Lorain and was with the Northeast Ohio Sewer District Westerly Plant from 2005-2007. He is survived by his wife of 26 years, Peg Kendzel; parents Gene and Ann (nee Zajkowski) Kendzel of Lorain and Cape Coral, FL; sister Gloria Hetey of McKinney, TX; brothers James Kendzel of Chicago, IL and Joel Kendzel of Lorain; many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, and cousins. He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, John and Anne Kendzel; maternal grandparents, Stanley and Bernice Zajkowski; and infant brother, Daniel Kendzel. There will be a time to celebrate John's life on Saturyday, December 13, 2008 from 12 Noon until 4 pm at the Rose Cafe, Lakeview Park, Lorain, where there will be a memorial service at 1:00 pm with Reverend Mr.Robert J. Dybo officiating. Memorial contributions are suggested to the Ireland Cancer Center at University Hospital, Instituial Relations and Development, PO Box 74947, Cleveland, OH 44191-4947 or Habitat for Humanity of Ohio 88 East Broad Street, Suite 1800, Columbus, OH 43215.