John Peter Orzel, 73, of Gilbert, Arizona, passed away on Saturday, September 25, 2021. He was born in Zagorow, Poland, on August 1, 1948, to Janina & Josef Orzel.
John was a very loving husband, father and grandfather. Loved his entire family.
When John was 13, he delivered newspapers on his bicycle for several years in Chicago. He became a naturized citizen when he was 19 years old.
He served in the US Army in Vietnam and completed 2 tours. He was wounded and recovered between the tours.
John was an avid Professional Sports Official his entire adult life. In Illinois, for many years and in Arizona 11 years. This was his passion. John loved sports of almost any kind. Sometimes he would watch a professional soccer game on the Spanish channel, he didn’t speak Spanish. John retired from MIC after 17 years on 10/02/2009.
He was a numbers guy and was the treasurer of Suburban Umpires Association in Illinois until about 2 years ago. He could add up a lot of numbers in his head.
He is preceded in death by his parents; brother-in-law’s, George Jasinski and Richard Milinkovich and niece, Stefny Randolph.
John survived by his loving wife, Kathleen Orzel; son, Mathew (Stacey) Orzel; sister, Irene Jasinski; sister-in-law, Irene Milinikovich; grandchildren, Emma, Ashton and Mason; nephew, Daniel Milinkovich; great niece, Jocelyn Randolph; step-niece, Katie (Garret) Schmitz and many other family members and friends in the United States and Poland.
A Memorial Service for John will be held, Friday, October 1, 2021, at 4:00pm at San Tan Mountain View Funeral Home, 21809 S Ellsworth Rd., Queen Creek, AZ 85142.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in John’s memory to, Wounded Warriors Project
https://woundedwarriorsproject
John, I will love you and miss you forever. Life is not going to be the same without you.