John Francis Krawiec

June 15, 1919 - October 28, 2020

John Francis Krawiec, 101, of Hoffman Estates Our beloved Uncle, John Francis Krawiec passed away on the evening of October 28th, 2020. Born in Poland on June 15th, 1919, he was a hero to all of us. He is preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, and a sister and leaves behind many nieces and nephews in the states as well as Poland. Everyone knew him as “Uncle John”. John was a journalist, a fighter for political freedom, a historian, and a teacher. During WWII, he was arrested in May of 1943 for publishing the Underground Newspaper as part of the Polish Resistance. He was imprisoned for two years in Aushwitz-Buchenwald Concentration Camp, to which he bears on his left arm the numbers “153156”. Emigrating to the US in 1949, he worked his way through Loyola University, earning a degree in political science in 1963. Serving as the Editor-in-Chief of the Daily Polish Newspaper of Chicago, he was a part of the press pool for President Nixon’s trip to Poland in 1972; the only time he could safely return to his homeland. He has met with several US Presidents and Popes throughout his career. His retirement from the newspaper included volunteering at the Holocaust Museum in Skokie. He was a firm believer that it was necessary to pass along his story of the camps. He spoke to over 3,000 Chicago area children. If you ever asked him how he aged so well, he would say “I drank good scotch with good friends." We toast you Uncle John, Na Zdrowie. We will miss you. Please make all memorial donations to the Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center For further information please contact the Morizzo Funeral Home and Cremation Services at 847.752.6444. The family has created a Life Tributes page; at MorizzoFuneralHome.com to share memories, photos and videos.