Henry (Hank) E. Drozdal, 93, of Jensen Beach, Fla. and formerly of Hadley, Mass., passed away Sunday, Nov. 9, 2013.
Mr. Drozdal was born in Hadley, Mass. where he lived for most of his life before retiring to Jensen Beach in 1983. Henry was a graduate of Hopkins Academy in Hadley, Mass. and of the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. He was the son of the late Michael and Klementine (Federkiewicz) Drozdal.
During World War II, Mr. Drozdal served as a first lieutenant in the United States Army and served in the Asian theater from New Guinea to the Philippines. He received several battle stars and commendations including the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star and the Philippines Liberation Medal. He was recalled to active duty during the Korean conflict and retired from the Army in 1951. Once he was discharged from military service, Mr. Drozdal entered the lumber industry and purchased the Hampshire Lumber Company in Northampton, Mass. He owned and operated this business for over thirty years.
Mr. Drozdal was a member of St. Martin de Porres Church in Jensen Beach and the Most Holy Redeemer Church in Hadley, Mass. He also was a member of the VFW Post 10066 in Jensen Beach and the American Legion Post 271 in Hadley, Mass. He was a frequent visitor to Barbados and Ontario Canada. His hobbies included traveling, golf, and swimming. He also took a keen interest in politics. Mr. Drozdal was a loving and generous family man and will be sorely missed by all who knew him.
He leaves two daughters, Paula Drozdal Connors of Reading, Mass. and Mary Ellen Drozdal of Hadley, Mass. He also leaves a son, Michael Drozdal and his wife Paula of Northampton Mass. Mr. Drozdal also has two stepsons, Stephen Waghorne and his wife Dawn of Ontario Canada and Gregory Waghorne and his wife Theresa of Ontario, Canada. Henry also leaves six loving grandchildren: Jacob Miller, Katherine Connors, Simone Miller, Stephen Connors, Marcus Waghorne and Jason Waghorne. He also has one great granddaughter Sarah Miller. He also leaves several nieces and nephews.
Four sisters and three brothers pre-deceased him, as well as his first wife, Stephanie Dasco Drozdal, in 1990 and his second wife, Norma Waghorne Drozdal in 2007.