Wincenty Victor Sznura

Wincenty (Victor) Sznura of Marianna passed from this earth on Friday, June 27, 2008 at the age of 94. He spent the past several years as a resident of Marianna Health and Rehabilitation Center. Mr. Sznura was born in Hamburg, Germany but lived the early years of his life in Poland. He served with the Polish Army at the beginning of WWII, fighting against the Germans until his capture by the Soviet Army when they entered the war on the Axis side in September of 1939. He was a Prisoner of War for 23 months until he was repatriated in late 1941 and served with the Free Polish Forces under the British 8th. Army. He served gallantly during the Italian Campaign and was wounded twice in combat and decorated for Valor by the British Army for his actions during the Battle of Monte Cassino. Unable to return to Poland after the war ended, he worked in several countries as an electrician and became fluent in several languages. He immigrated to the United States in 1960 and resided in Chicago, Illinois where he was employed by the Brunswick Corporation for 20 years. Upon retirement from that job he moved to Marianna, Florida where he was employed at Jackson Hospital for several years with the Housekeeping Department. He was preceded in death by his parents, Marion and Marianna Sznura, a brother and a granddaughter, Mary D. Sznura. Survivors include his wife Cecylia Sznura of Warner Robbins, Georgia, three sons, Joseph Bielawski of St. Augustine, Stanley Bielawski of Warner Robbins, Georgia and Thomas Sznura and wife Michelle of Vernon; one daughter, Sabina Bielawski of North Field, Ill.; eight grandchildren. Funeral mass will be recited 10 am Wednesday, July 2, 2008 at St. Anne's Catholic Church, Interment will follow at Pinecrest Memorial Gardens with James & Sikes Funeral Home Maddox Chapel directing. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 pm Tuesday, July 1, 2008 at Maddox Chapel. "