Facilities supervisor for Wakefield schools
Published in the September 16, 2015 edition
WAKEFIELD — At 82 years of age, Izydor Jan “John” Siepka passed away Sunday, September 13, at the Lahey Hospital and Medical Center in Burlington after a short illness.
Born and raised in Poland he received his early education attending schools in occupied Poland and Germany during World War II. During the late 1940’s as a young man he immigrated to the United States with his mother and grandmother to begin a new life.
Originally settling in Natick with a sponsor family, he later relocated to Chelsea. He was introduced to a young lady still in Poland, they corresponded with each other by mail and eventually John returned to Poland to meet this young lady, Wieslawa Michalak.
They courted and were soon married in Poland in a civil ceremony. John returned to the United States making arrangements to bring his new bride home. Their marriage was consecrated in St. Stanislaus Church in Chelsea in 1961. Together they raised their three sons in Chelsea before moving to Wakefield in 1980.
John worked for nearly 30 years for American Biltrite Co., in Chelsea up to the time the factory closed in 1978. He was later hired by the Wakefield School Department, working at the Galvin Junior High School and Galvin Middle School for the next 15 years as a Facilities/Building manager and supervisor. He retired in 1999.
In his lifetime John enjoyed time with his family, holiday dinners and old fashion Sunday family dinners, taking his sons on early morning fishing trips, traveling with his wife, enjoying many ocean and sea cruises in the Caribbean, Alaskan waters and European shores.
He enjoyed spending time in the White Mountains, hiking, berry picking and wilderness activities. He was also a self-fancied wine connoisseur.
He is survived by his beloved wife 55 years, Wieslawa “Virginia” Siepka. He was the devoted father of Mark Siepka and his wife Karen of Rowley, Thomas Siepka and his wife Eva of Peabody and Stephen Siepka of Chelmsford. He is also survived by seven grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.
Funeral from the Frank A. Welsh & Sons Funeral Home, 718 Broadway, Chelsea on Friday Sept. 18, at 9 a.m. followed by a funeral Mass at St. Stanislaus Church, 163 Chestnut St., Chelsea at 10 a.m. Services will conclude with Interment at Woodlawn Cemetery, Everett. Relatives and friends are most kindly invited to attend.
Visiting hours will be held at the Welsh Funeral Home on Thursday from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
The funeral home is fully handicap accessible, ample parking opposite funeral home. For directions or to send expressions of sympathy, please visit www.WelshFuneralHome.com.
