Len Ruczynski;

Leonard John Ruczynski, known as Len Ruczynski, 90, of Alpena, Michigan, quietly passed away into our Lord's presence on Thursday, May 19, 2011, with his family by his side.

Leonard Ruczynski was born in Alpena June 24, 1920 to the late Frank Ruczynski and Veronica (Zurowski) Ruczynski. He married Imogene "Jean" Bachman of Illinois on August 29, 1942 in Columbia, South Carolina where he was stationed in the Army Air Corps. He was crew chief on a number of B-25's and served in the North African and Italian Campaigns. Jean preceded him in death on October 7, 2009. Leonard was a member of St. Bernard Catholic Church and had served as an usher. He was an avid golfer and was very active in the Lions Club and the Chamber of Commerce.

Len and his late brother, Joe, started the Midway Supermarket in various places in Alpena after they returned from the war. In 1959 he and his family moved to St. Petersburg, Florida where he operated the Snell Isle Market. In 1965 they moved to Owasso, Oklahoma and ran a Western Auto store. Being homesick for Alpena, the family moved back and Len sold Metropolitan Life Insurance and annuities. They bought Brightwaters Resort on Long Lake and operated that for 20 years. During a partial retirement, he worked as a guard at Abitibi for a few years. He and Jean then lived part of the year in Kissimmee, Florida and the rest in Alpena.

Surviving were 2 daughters, Mary of Alpena, Elizabeth of San Leandro, California; 1 son, Joseph of Alpena; 4 grandchildren; 3 great-grandchildren; numerous cousins, nieces, nephews; and a sister, Virginia Fortier of Kalamazoo and formerly of Alpena.

Preceding him in death were his 2 brothers, Frank and Joe.

24 June, 1920 - 19 May, 2011

Leonard J Ruczynski