Henry J Grzesiak

Henry Grzesiak Jr, 72 of Glenwood IL, passed away peacefully at home with family, on June 17th, 2024.

He had a courageous seven-year battle with illness, in which he frequently rallied with remissions. He was able to enjoy travel and time spent with family and friends. Our memories will be cherished, and he will be missed by many.

Henry grew up in the Hegewisch neighborhood of Chicago IL. He attended St. Columba Parish and Elementary School, also serving as an altar boy. He loved to hunt and fish at the Wolf Lake Preserve. He also liked to work on mechanical things at an early age. As a teenager, Henry attended St. Francis de Sales High School where he played baseball and developed an interest and aptitude for computer technology. After high school, he landed a job in data processing at Inland Steel and continued his education at Thornton Community College.

Always nurturing an adventurous and restless spirit, he decided to pull up roots and hitchhike across the western United States. He went to California where some friends had relocated to a large home on the hillside. He settled down there and became employed in freelance work through a Presbyterian church community. He supported himself with side jobs of carpentry, landscaping and painting, until he became manager and part-time mechanic at a gas station on Sunset Boulevard. While employed at that gas station, Henry caught random glimpses of movie stars while their limos were being filled up. Right around the same time, he became the proud owner of a 1972 gold Honda 450 motorcycle, on which he took many scenic trips up the coast.

On his return to the Chicago area to reconnect with family and the family hardware store business, he met his future wife, Nancy, at a local pharmacy. Henry and Nancy married in 1976 and eventually settled in Glenwood, IL where they raised three amazing sons. At that time, Henry was employed at the EJ&E Railroad as a yard clerk and IOT Automation Technology Clerk. In his later years at the railroad, EJ&E became CN, and Henry became a Bridge Tender Clerk before retiring in ​2018. He continued to further his education at DeVry University, studying electronics and coding.

Henry's hobbies and interests included: woodworking, mechanics, gardening, photography, music, nature and wildlife, baseball and hockey.

Beloved husband to Nancy (nee Dahlin). Loving and proud father to Andrew (Stacy); David (Angela); and John (Sharaelle). Loving and proud grandfather to eight grandsons: Collin, William, Nolan, Michael, Murat, Ethan, Jackson and Alexander.

Loving son of the late Henry and Mary. Loving brother to Anne (the late Frank); Walter (Patricia); Theresa;

Mary (John); the late Barbara (the late Dan); Margaret (Michael). Loving Uncle to many nieces and nephews.

A memorial visitation will be held on Saturday August 10, 2024 from 9:30am until the time of a Memorial Service at 10:30am, at Faith Lutheran Church 18645 Dixie Hwy, Homewood, IL 60430. For additional information contact tews-ryanfh.com or call 708-798-5300.