IPSWICH — Leon I. Bartnisky Jr., 89, loving husband of the late Rose B. (Clemeno) Bartnisky, died unexpectedly late Sunday night, Aug. 22, 2010 in the Merrimack Valley Hospital in Haverhill after a brief illness.
Born in Ipswich on July 20, 1921 he was the son of the late Leon I. Sr. and Julia (Haberek) Bartnicki.
Mr. Bartnisky was raised in Ipswich. He was a veteran of World War II having served in Army. He was very proud of his military service. He enlisted in early 1942 and became a member of the U.S. Army's famed First Infantry Division. Mr. Bartnisky participated in four amphibious landings in the European Theater of Operations against the Germans and the Italians. After his honorable discharge in 1945 he married Rose Clemeno in 1946 and they made their home in Ipswich were they raised their four daughters. Mr. Bartnisky was a foreman at the A.C. Lawrence Leather Company in Peabody for 24 years. At the same time he was also employed at the Ipswich Shellfish Company, he started working for the company from its inception. He was a member of the V.F.W. Post 1093 and the Polish Legion of American Veterans Fabian Weltchek Post 92 both of Ipswich. He was a member of the "Big Red One" military group and attended their reunions for many, many years all over the country. He was also an avid NASCAR fan and traveled to many of the tracks around the country. Mr. Bartnisky frequently visited his favorite restaurant, the Clam Box of Ipswich, throughout his entire life. He will be missed by all who knew him. He was predeceased by his wife Rose on Dec. 11, 1993.
Mr. Bartnisky is survived by his four daughters, Leona Johnson of Los Angeles, Nancy Healy of Merrimac, Debra Bartnicki of Bronxville, N.Y. and Donna Rainha of Newbury; five grandchildren, Melissa Johnson and Shantel Johnson, Shannon Santimore and Brian Healy, and Courtney Cormier; and two great-grandchildren, Jevon Martin and Matthew Santimore. He is also survived by his sister, Louise Ciolek of Ipswich and by several nieces and nephews. Mr. Bartnisky was also predeceased by his brother, Alexander "Wally" Bartnicki and his sister, Sophie Bishop, both formerly of Ipswich.
ARRANGEMENTS: A funeral Mass will be celebrated Friday, Aug. 27 at 9 a.m. at Our Lady of Hope Catholic Church, Linebrook Road, Ipswich. Burial will be in the Cowles Memorial Cemetery, 29 Town Farm Road, Ipswich. Visiting hours will be Thursday, Aug. 26 from 5 to 8 p.m. in the Morris Funeral Home, 45 North Main St., Ipswich, relatives and friends are respectfully invited. Evening military services will be held Thursday at 7 p.m. in the funeral home. In lieu of flowers please make contributions in Mr. Bartnisky's name to the V.F.W. Post 1093, County Road, Ipswich, MA 01938. For directions or to send condolences to the Bartnisky family please go to: www.MorrisFH.com.
