DUDLEY – Edward A. “Eddie” Ziemba, 81, of Dudley, died Tuesday, April 10, in Harrington Memorial Hospital, Southbridge, after suffering from emphysema.
He leaves his wife of 58 years, Joan B. (Senckowski) Ziemba; a daughter, Mary Ellen “Mez” Ziemba of Warwick, MA; a son, Mark E. A. Ziemba of Dudley; two grandsons, Jesse E. and Christopher J. Davis, both of Wendell, MA; nephews and nieces. He was preceded in death by his 2 sisters, Caroline Mikuszewski and Bridget Z. Benasky,and by his 3 brothers, Joseph, Stanley and Walter Ziemba.
He was born on the family farm on September 16, 1925, the youngest child of Albert and Anna (Mikuszewski) Ziemba and was a lifelong resident. He attended Bartlett High School in Webster.
He was an Army veteran of the Korean War, serving as a staff sergeant from 1952 to 1954.
Mr. Ziemba was first a dairy farmer at the family’s Ziemba Dairy Farm, which he later owned and operated. He worked for Groves, Lundin and Cox and also at Scavone Construction while the Massachusetts Turnpike was being built. He was a heavy equipment operator, carpenter and mechanic. He built and operated his own gas station. He mowed the roadsides for the Town of Dudley for decades. He also worked for the bridges division of the Mass. Department of Public Works before retiring in 1992. He was a jack of all trades and master of several.
He was a communicant of Saint Andrew Bobola Church and a life member and active participant at the Webster Lodge of Elks, BPOE #1466. He was a life member of the Quinebaug Volunteer Fire Department, and a member of the former Dudley Veterans. He was an avid Red Sox fan and died on opening day of Fenway Park. He also enjoyed auto racing, corn on the cob, yoohoos and driving his tractor. Above all, he was close to his family.
A funeral Mass was held at St. Andrew Bobola Church, 54 West Main Street. Burial, with military honors, was in St. Joseph Garden of Peace, Webster. Calling hours were private. Donations may be made to St. Andrew Bobola Church Renovation Fund, 54 West Main St., PO Box 98, Dudley, MA 01571-0098. Funeral arrangements were under the direction of Sitkowski & Malboeuf Funeral Home, 340 School Street, Webster.