In Memory of
Walter Edmund
Sidor
Sidor
1924 - 2016
Memorial Candle Tribute From
Harrison Family Mortuary
"We are honored to provide this Book of Memories to the family."
View full message >>>
Obituary for Walter Edmund Sidor
Walter E. Sidor
Walter (“Walt”) Edmund Sidor, 91, a long-time resident of Aberdeen, passed away on May 22, 2016 after a brief illness. He was preceded in death by his wife of 61 years, Carolyn; brothers Edward, Rudolf, Bolek, and Kasey; and his sister, Adela Zielinska. He is survived by his five children: Bill (Kris) Sidor, Ann (Russ) Whittington, Stan Sidor, Chuck (Teresa) Sidor, Joe (Jean) Sidor, 15 grandchildren, 5 great-grandchildren, brother John Sidor, sisters Sofia Sandrzyk, Anna Gut, Isabelle Ramocki, and Crystina Bandola, along with numerous nieces and nephews, and his sister-in-law Catherine Foster.
Walt was born Wladyslaw E. Sidor on August 11, 1924, in Dynow, in southeastern Poland, to Stanlislaus and Helen Sidor, on a small family farm. Walt was a survivor who endured many hardships. The oldest of 11 children, Walt was taken in 1940, at age 15, by the Nazis and sent to Germany to work as a forced farm laborer. He was liberated by American Forces in 1945, and served as a civilian patrolman in the US 4038 Labor Service Company in Germany until 1949. He chose to emigrate to the US as a “displaced person” from the war, rather than live under Communist Russian control. He never saw his parents again. Walt was sponsored by Joseph Novak Sr., and settled in Aberdeen, where he initially worked at Fern Hill Cemetery, and then ITT Rayonier in Hoquiam, WA. He met and married Carolyn Garbe in June, 1952. Walt was proud to be naturalized and sworn in as an American citizen in April, 1955.
Walt worked in the Chemical Recovery Plant for at ITT Rayonier for 37 years, retiring in 1988. In the mid-1960s, he was severely injured in an industrial accident at the mill when a vat of sulfuric acid exploded, filling his shoes. He underwent several painful skin graft surgeries on his feet.
He also worked part-time as a landscaper for St. Mary’s Church, convent, and school, and also for several local families on the harbor, and worked helping George Halvorson with many projects, including at the Halverson’s Christmas Tree Farm in Brady.
Walt finally returned to Poland in 1974 with his eldest son Bill, and was able to visit his parents’ graves and his old home. In 1978, he joined Bill in forming Sidor Construction and continued to indulge his love of woodworking. Among numerous woodworking projects, Walt designed and built a new baptismal font for St. Mary’s Catholic Church. Walt traveled to Europe again with his daughter Ann in 1996. His son, Joe, then stationed in Germany with the U.S. Air Force, discovered the location of the farm that he worked on during the war; they drove to the farm, discovered it was still owned by the same family, and he made peace with the family of the farmer.
Walt loved his church, his family, gardening, woodworking and traveling. He was a Grand Knight with the Knights of Columbus, and received an award in 2002 from St. Mary’s for his many years of volunteer service.
A memorial mass will be held at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Aberdeen, 306 E. Third St., on Friday, July 22, 2016, at 11 a.m. A celebration of his life will immediately follow at the Parish Center from noon to 3 p.m. A graveside inurnment will take place at Fern Hill Cemetery immediately following the Parish Center celebration.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the W.E. Sidor Memorial Scholarship Fund in his name, c/o Stan Sidor, 5909 Panorama Dr. SE, #17-103, Auburn, WA 98092.
Arrangements are entrusted to Harrison Family Mortuary in Aberdeen.
Walter (“Walt”) Edmund Sidor, 91, a long-time resident of Aberdeen, passed away on May 22, 2016 after a brief illness. He was preceded in death by his wife of 61 years, Carolyn; brothers Edward, Rudolf, Bolek, and Kasey; and his sister, Adela Zielinska. He is survived by his five children: Bill (Kris) Sidor, Ann (Russ) Whittington, Stan Sidor, Chuck (Teresa) Sidor, Joe (Jean) Sidor, 15 grandchildren, 5 great-grandchildren, brother John Sidor, sisters Sofia Sandrzyk, Anna Gut, Isabelle Ramocki, and Crystina Bandola, along with numerous nieces and nephews, and his sister-in-law Catherine Foster.
Walt was born Wladyslaw E. Sidor on August 11, 1924, in Dynow, in southeastern Poland, to Stanlislaus and Helen Sidor, on a small family farm. Walt was a survivor who endured many hardships. The oldest of 11 children, Walt was taken in 1940, at age 15, by the Nazis and sent to Germany to work as a forced farm laborer. He was liberated by American Forces in 1945, and served as a civilian patrolman in the US 4038 Labor Service Company in Germany until 1949. He chose to emigrate to the US as a “displaced person” from the war, rather than live under Communist Russian control. He never saw his parents again. Walt was sponsored by Joseph Novak Sr., and settled in Aberdeen, where he initially worked at Fern Hill Cemetery, and then ITT Rayonier in Hoquiam, WA. He met and married Carolyn Garbe in June, 1952. Walt was proud to be naturalized and sworn in as an American citizen in April, 1955.
Walt worked in the Chemical Recovery Plant for at ITT Rayonier for 37 years, retiring in 1988. In the mid-1960s, he was severely injured in an industrial accident at the mill when a vat of sulfuric acid exploded, filling his shoes. He underwent several painful skin graft surgeries on his feet.
He also worked part-time as a landscaper for St. Mary’s Church, convent, and school, and also for several local families on the harbor, and worked helping George Halvorson with many projects, including at the Halverson’s Christmas Tree Farm in Brady.
Walt finally returned to Poland in 1974 with his eldest son Bill, and was able to visit his parents’ graves and his old home. In 1978, he joined Bill in forming Sidor Construction and continued to indulge his love of woodworking. Among numerous woodworking projects, Walt designed and built a new baptismal font for St. Mary’s Catholic Church. Walt traveled to Europe again with his daughter Ann in 1996. His son, Joe, then stationed in Germany with the U.S. Air Force, discovered the location of the farm that he worked on during the war; they drove to the farm, discovered it was still owned by the same family, and he made peace with the family of the farmer.
Walt loved his church, his family, gardening, woodworking and traveling. He was a Grand Knight with the Knights of Columbus, and received an award in 2002 from St. Mary’s for his many years of volunteer service.
A memorial mass will be held at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Aberdeen, 306 E. Third St., on Friday, July 22, 2016, at 11 a.m. A celebration of his life will immediately follow at the Parish Center from noon to 3 p.m. A graveside inurnment will take place at Fern Hill Cemetery immediately following the Parish Center celebration.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the W.E. Sidor Memorial Scholarship Fund in his name, c/o Stan Sidor, 5909 Panorama Dr. SE, #17-103, Auburn, WA 98092.
Arrangements are entrusted to Harrison Family Mortuary in Aberdeen.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Walter Edmund Sidor, please visit our Heartfelt Sympathies Store.
Order Flowers