Obit: Grendzinski, Leonard (1929 - 1960)

Contact: Stan

Email: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Grendzinski, Hill, Marks

----Source: THORP COURIER (Thorp, Clark County, Wis.) 07/28/1960

Grendzinski, Leonard (19 MAR 1929 - 16 JUL 1960)

Leonard Grendzinski, 31, of Chicago and formerly of Thorp (Clark Co., Wis.), died by drowning in Lake Michigan Saturday, July 16^th, 1960 when his boat smashed into the Oak Street breakwater in Chicago.

Two coast guard boats, a police marine unit and fire boat Joseph Medill had hunted for Mr. Grendzinski whose body was later found.

Grendzinski and two companions, George Hill, 31, and Raymond Marks, 29, both of Chicago, left a harbor for a short cruise in Grendzinski’s 18 foot boat.

Hill and Marks said Grendzinski apparently did not know he was approaching the breakwater.  The two men said the boat struck suddenly and they were thrown onto the breakwater, Grendzinski disappeared.

Hill and Marks signaled for help with a spotlight and were rescued by the excursion boat, Pilot II, which was on a cruise with seven passengers from it berth at the Michigan Av. bride in Chicago.

The two men were taken to Henrotin Hospital, Chicago, where Marks was treated for an apparent fractured jaw and Hill for an injured leg.

Leonard Grendzinski, born in Chicago on March 19, 1929, was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Peter Grendzinski of Thorp.  He leaves to mourn, his wife Ruth and three children, Robert, Kenneth and Arlene, also his parents and five brothers, William, Raymond, Edmond, John and Alvin.

After funeral services which took place at the funeral parlors of J. Muloney in Chicago, by Msgr. Collins of St. Sylvester Catholic Church, and attended by the Color Guard of the V.F.W., he was laid to rest in St. Joseph Cemetery at River Grove, Ill.