Sylvester J. Breznak

Sylvester J. "Silver" Breznak, 85, of Dover died in Union Hospital on Monday, October 26, 2009 following a brief illness.


Born on August 4, 1924 in Cokeburg, Pennsylvania, he was the son of the late Sylvester and Lucia Kayda Breznak. He is also preceded in death by his brother; John Breznak; and son in-law, Tim Gintz.

Sylvester attended Lore High School and later continued his education at Pittsburgh Institute of Air Conditioning and Refrigeration. He retired from Wilmar Furniture in Dover, where he was an appliance service manager for nearly 40 years.

He honorably served our country in the Army during World War II in the Battery D, 566th anti-aircraft battalion, where he was a truck driver. He did his training at Camp Davis in North Carolina and Camp Stewart in Georgia. During the war, he was stationed in England, France, Germany and Luxembourg.

He married the love of his life, Barbara Hadbavny, on May 10, 1952. Together they had two children.

Sylvester was an outdoorsman who loved fishing and feeding the birds. He was an avid Cleveland Indian fan.

In addition to his wife, Barbara, he will be missed by his son; James (Jennie) Breznak of Dover; his daughter, Laurie Gintz (Thomas Murphy) both of Dover; five grandchildren, Jan-Michael (Kristin) Gintz of Columbus, Danielle (Steve) VanHorn of Canton, Jimmy, Alex, and Katie Breznak all of Dover, and he was eagerly awaiting the birth of his first great-grandson in December.

A mass will be held at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Dover with Father Matt Hoover officiating on Thursday, October 29, 2009 at 2:00 pm. Following the mass, the Dover VFW will conduct a military graveside service at Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Dover. Friends are invited to call at the Toland-Herzig Funeral Home and Crematory in Dover on Wednesday, October 28, 2009 from 5-7pm. A Christian
wake service will take place at 7:00 pm.

Those unable to attend, or who would like to sign an
online register book for Sylvester, can do so by clicking on the "obituary" link on the funeral home's website.

The family suggests that contributions be made to Hospice of Tuscarawas County, 201 West 3rd St, Dover, Ohio 44622 or St. Joseph Catholic Church, 613 N. Tuscarawas Ave, Dover, Ohio 44622.