John Raczynski

John Peter Raczynski, 75, of Mountain Home, Arkansas died April 1, 2011. John, whose birth date is September 15, 1935, was the youngest of four children born in Naoiboki, Poland to Peter and Mary Raczynski. John?s childhood history helped develop his appreciation for life as well as the compassion and humor for which his is known. The first four years of his life, before the turbulence and horror of WWII, was spent in a town along the eastern border of Poland. Things forever changed in January 1940 when, in the middle of the night, Russian soldiers invaded their home and transported them to a work camp in Siberia. They struggled to survive at the camp but the odyssey only intensified when released in July 1941. John?s father and older brother joined the Polish war effort and the rest of the family continued the arduous and uncertain journey from Siberia to the Caspian Sea. Severe illness plagued the travelers and sadly, John?s brother, Roman, Died. John?s mother, Mary, though too ill to live, succeeded in her struggle to get her two remaining children, John and his sister, Tosia, onto the boat crossing the Caspian Sea. The ensuing journey took them to far away places including Tehran, Pakistan, India and on to San Francisco and finally, sanctuary in Mexico in 1943. John began his life in the U.S. in May 1946 when he and his sister were accepted into an orphanage in Chicago. John?s father was reunited with them after the war. After serving his country in the U.S. Army as a Surgeon?s Assistant, John married his beloved wife, Toni, in Evanston, Illinois on February 11, 1961. After John?s retirement as a tool and die maker, they moved in 1997 to their Friesian horse farm in Mountain Home. While Toni continued her career as a registered nurse John helped with the horses and was a compassionate caregiver for 8 years to his father in law, Arvie Walters. John is survived by his wife of fifty years, Toni Kelley Raczynski; one son, Michael Raczynski, and wife, Sandy, of Mountain Home; five grandchildren, Jonathan, Hailey, Nathan, Jessica and Sarah and one great grandson, Jayvion; one brother, Ted Raczynski and his wife, Marianne, of Manchester, England; nephew, Peter (Leslie) Raczynski and children, Emily and Elizabeth; one sister, Tosia Pinkowski of St. Petersburg, FL; nephew, Paul (Pollu) Pinkowski; niece, Christine Pinkowski (Wayne) Hamil; great nephew, Richard (Jennifer) Hamil and children, Cole and Courtney; great niece, Tiffany Hamil (Mike) Stoesel and children, Eddie and Victoria. John was preceded in death by his parents, a son, David and a brother, Roman. Memorial may be made to Hospice of the Ozarks Hospice House. A celebration of life service will be 10:30 A.M., Friday, April 8, 2011 at St. Andrew?s Episcopal Church with Reverend Jim McDonald Officiating and Military Honors provided by the North Arkansas Veteran?s Council, Ozark VFW post 3246 Honor Guard. Arrangements are by Kirby & Family Funeral and Cremation Services. Online obituary and guestbook: www.kirbyandfamily.com .