Willy Marzec July 5, 1941 – June 30, 2021
Eulogy
Willy Marzec was born in Denmark on July 5, 1941. He was the oldest of three brothers. His family moved to Norway during World War II (1944) to avoid German occupation then moved to Sweden for a time. By age 7 the family moved to Canada as his dad (Stefan) worked for the Canadian military as a civilian worker and the family moved frequently around to different parts of Canada, mostly in Labrador and Manitoba provinces. Around the age of 20, Willy enlisted in the Canadian Air Force as a mechanic. Due to his work ethic and precision workmanship, he was promoted to the Canadian Honor Guard. After his service, he worked as a truck driver hauling goods to and from Canada/US border states. In 1963 he moved back to Sweden and met his wife Ulla in the springtime of 1964 and became engaged a few months later. During this time in Sweden, Willy was working to make fiberglass boats at a bicycle factory. During this time, educational opportunities in Sweden were difficult to come by so both Willy and Ulla immigrated to Milwaukee Wisconsin, and were married shortly after on November 6, 1965. Willy was finishing his Engineering degree in Milwaukee when Ulla was offered a job transfer to San Diego in 1969. He helped move Ulla out west then he flew back to Milwaukee to complete his degree with Honors in 1970. He then moved to San Diego to be with Ulla and purchase their first home together. He was soon hired by Pulse Engineering and was inventing and building winding machines for electronic parts. In 1971, Steven, their only son, was born. Family life included fishing trips out to sea, soccer-playing, coaching, running, skiing, motorcycling, three-wheeling, building, and inventing. He was always involved with family and opportunities to be outdoors. Another job transfer moved the family to Georgia in 1989. In 2003 he was baptized into the Seventh-day Adventist Church then moved to Oregon because of another job transfer. He faithfully served as a church deacon in the Beaverton Oregon SDA church and was always willing to help whenever needed. In 2011, Willy and Ulla moved back to Georgia and remained here until the present time. He was characterized by his dedication to his family, love of the outdoors, excellence in workmanship, creative mind to invent and build, the ultimate DIY fix-it-man, and a spirit of generosity to help others. Willy will be dearly missed, but we have the great hope we will see him in the resurrection on the last day.
