Bob “Ski” Szymonski, of Dowagiac

Published 10:26 am Wednesday, November 1, 2017

Sept. 19, 1933 — Aug. 9, 2014

Stephen R. Szymonski, 72, of Dowagiac, passed away peacefully on Thursday, Oct. 19, 2017, at home after a short illness.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2017, at the Dowagiac Conservation Club, 54551 M-51 N. Dowagiac. Family and Friends may visit prior to the service from 1 to 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Dowagiac VFW Post 1855, 472 E. Division St., Dowagiac, Michigan. Those wishing to send a condolence or sign the guest book online may do so at clarkch.com

Bob was born on Feb. 15, 1945, in Dowagiac. He graduated from Dowagiac High School. Bob served ten years in the U.S. Army with two tours in Vietnam. He was a Road Deputy with the Cass County Sheriff’s Department for 25 years. Bob had his own excavating business and Ski’s Frontier Sporting Goods Store. He enjoyed playing cards, reading and watching westerns, hunting and Mr. Wahoo’s for breakfast. Bob was a proud member of the NRA, VFW and Dowagiac Conservation Club. Most of all, Bob loved spending time with his family and friends. His special friends were Jack Lewandowski, Bill Kirtley and Kenny Wray.

Stephen Szymonski

He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Susan; children, Steve (Denise) Szymonski of Dowagiac and Kelly (Dick) Toney of Edwardsburg; siblings, Mike (Judy) Szymonski, Pam Szymonski and Julie (Ken) Dewey all of Dowagiac; grandchildren, Eric Szymonski, Hannah and Rachael Toney and Bill and David Deming and three great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Steve and Alice (Mosier) Szymonski and brother Dell Szymonski