He was born October 22, 1923 to Casimir and Apolonia Wodynski, who had immigrated to Milwaukee from Poland. John spoke of happy days as a child living near the Milwaukee River. He was fond of ice skating and had memories of he and his friends shoveling their own skating rink. His childhood ended early with the beginning of World War II, when John enlisted in the navy as a very young man. After the war, John married Maxine Gossen on July 17, 1948. He went to college on the GI Bill and became a teacher who taught special education in the Milwaukee Public Schools for nearly 40 years. He received calls at home from a number of his former students long after they reached adulthood, and he always had time to speak with them. John loved to sing, and was a member of several church choirs. He also loved to sing a song or two at weddings, often with his daughter. He still knew many of the old songs by heart. John and Maxine were together for over 60 years of marriage. Maxine died on September 21, 2012. They had four children and six grandchildren. He is also survived by his two sisters. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers Henry and Edwin Wodynski, and sister Mary Grabowski.
He was born October 22, 1923 to Casimir and Apolonia Wodynski, who had immigrated to Milwaukee from Poland. John spoke of happy days as a child living near the Milwaukee River. He was fond of ice skating and had memories of he and his friends shoveling their own skating rink. His childhood ended early with the beginning of World War II, when John enlisted in the navy as a very young man. After the war, John married Maxine Gossen on July 17, 1948. He went to college on the GI Bill and became a teacher who taught special education in the Milwaukee Public Schools for nearly 40 years. He received calls at home from a number of his former students long after they reached adulthood, and he always had time to speak with them. John loved to sing, and was a member of several church choirs. He also loved to sing a song or two at weddings, often with his daughter. He still knew many of the old songs by heart. John and Maxine were together for over 60 years of marriage. Maxine died on September 21, 2012. They had four children and six grandchildren. He is also survived by his two sisters. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers Henry and Edwin Wodynski, and sister Mary Grabowski.
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