Ronald Joseph Szymanski

Ronald J. Szymanski, age 90, passed away on Saturday, April 8, 2023. He was born in Toledo, OH on August 6, 1932 to parents John and Rose (Lyskawa) Szymanski who preceded him in death. He married Joanne Sieja, his loving wife of 66 years, on April 14, 1956.

Ron was a 1950 graduate of Macomber High School. His military service was in the 1950’s, rising to the rank of Army First Lieutenant. He was a parishioner of St. Clement Catholic Church and a former parishioner of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church where he was a councilman, usher, and president of the credit union. He was a member of the Toledo Fort Industry Masonic Lodge #144 and former member of the Scottish Rite and Zenobia Shrine. He was also a member of the Polish Genealogical Society and the Toledo Museum of Art.

Ron spent the last 35 years of his working career at the Jeep Plant, retiring in 1998. He joined the UAW in 1950 and while at Jeep was a union steward for 9 years, safety steward, and 12-year trustee on the Jeep Credit Union committee. He also served 7 years as the chairman of the Local 12 election committee.

Ron was a lover of history and especially Jeep history. He was the volunteer curator of the Jeep House Museum at the plant and was a Jeep Historian for Chrysler’s Camp Jeep held throughout the country for 10 years after retirement. He also was a speaker for many Jeep meets and conventions. Ron was featured on Channel 30, the Canadian History Channel, and is on Channel 30’s KnowledgeStream.org with a one-hour lecture he did for the Lourdes University Lecture series.

Ron is survived by his daughters, Cynthia Ryan, Karen (Jaime) Stykemain, and Sandra Szymanski; grandchildren, Alan Stykemain, David Ryan, and Sarah (Lee) Scutt; and great-grandchildren, Kaylee, Trenton, Samantha, Andrew, and Ella. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife Joanne Szymanski on February 22, 2023; son-in-law, Jim Ryan; and brothers, Ray and Richard “Dick” Szymanski.

Visitation will be Wednesday, April 12 from 2-7 p.m. at Sujkowski Funeral Home Northpointe, 114 E. Alexis Rd. The funeral service will be Thursday at 10:30 a.m. in the funeral home with Rev. Francis Speier presiding. Entombment will follow in Resurrection Cemetery.

Special thanks for the compassionate care that the nurses gave Dad at Mercy St. Anne Hospital. Memorial donations may be given to a charity of the donor’s choice. Condolences may be shared at www.sujkowski.com.