MACZKO, EDWIN H.
Sergeant Major Edwin H. Maczko, USMC (Ret.), died December 22, 2003, at the age of 83.
Born January 19, 1920 to Frank and Mary Maczko in Chicago, Illinois, he lived with his parents; older brother, Edward F. Maczko; and younger sister, Eleanor Maczko. He attended public school in Chicago and after leaving school worked in the Chicago area until the U.S. entered World War II. After Pearl Harbor, he and his older brother, Edward joined the U.S. Marine Corps.
During World War II he served in the Pacific area of operations with the U.S. Marine Corps 1st Raider Battalion and later when the Raider Battalions were combined, he serve with the 4th Marine Regiment seeing action during the battles for Emirau, Guam and Okinawa and was present in Tokyo Bay for the surrender ceremonies that ended the war in the Pacific.
After the end of hostilities, he returned to Chicago. In 1947 he returned to active duty in the U.S. Marine Corps with the 5th Marines and was stationed at Camp Matthews in San Diego where he met, courted and married in February 1948 the love of his life, Roselle L. Hames. Later after the Marine Corps had donated the Camp Matthews property to the University of California, Roselle and Edwin’s daughters, Lari Lyn Maczko and Linda Lee Maczko both graduated with honors from the University of California, San Diego, established on the donated property.
After the birth of his oldest daughter, Lari Lyn, Edwin served in Korea, returning home in 1951 for the birth of his younger daughter, Linda. Edwin, Roselle and their children lived in La Mesa, California, until 1955 when the family moved to Hawaii, where Edwin was stationed at Kaneohe Bay. After returning from Hawaii, Edwin was stationed at Camp Pendleton and the family moved to Vista, California. From there Edwin and his family moved to El Paso, Texas, where he served on 1-1 duty with the 19th Rifle Company and then to Camp Lejuene, North Carolina. Edwin and family returned to Camp Pendleton in 1966.
Edwin served two tours in Vietnam and was awarded the Purple Heart. He was a Sergeant Major in the 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion. After serving in Vietnam, Edwin returned to Camp Pendleton and retired in 1973 as Sergeant Major of the 11th Marines with over 30 years of active service.
After Edwin’s retirement, he and Roselle moved to Carriage Hills in Vista where he enjoyed gardening, woodworking, remodeling, telling jokes, working puzzles and the company of family, friends and neighbors. He and Roselle also had the opportunity to travel and renew old acquaintances from the Raider Battalion during Raider reunions. Edwin attended his last Raider Reunion in San Diego in September 2003.
Edwin is survived by his daughters, Lari Lyn and Linda Lee of San Diego; his sister, Eleanor Kaczmarck of Chicago, Ill.; sisters-in-law Mary Glover of Vidalia, Georgia, and Leonora Paprocki of Upland, California; brother-in-law Norman Hames of Coronado, California; four nieces and six nephews; 11 grandnephews and grandnieces; and one great-grandniece. He was preceded in death by his brother, Edward F. Maczko in 2000; and his beloved wife, Roselle. In 83 years he accomplished much and family and friends were blessed by the opportunity to share the joys of life with him.
We love you Daddy.
Memorial services will be held January 10, 2004, at 1 p.m. at Eternal Hills Memorial Park and Mortuary in Oceanside, California. Donations may be made to the UCSD Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center or UCSD Stroke Center in lieu of flowers.