Richard John Mizialko (1942-2026)
Richard John Mizialko, 83, of Huntley, Illinois, passed away on February 19th, 2026.
Rich was born on August 16th, 1942, to Steven Mizialko and Judith Gaza Mizialko. He grew up i n Chicago, Illinois, alongside his brother Steve and his sister Judy. He attended Lane Tech College Prep High School before beginning his career as a machinist at Rotoprint until 1985, when he began working at Cook County Hospital until his retirement.
In October of 1959, Rich met the love of his life, Sharon. They were married on October 12th,1963, surrounded by their loved ones, including their wedding party- Steve Mizialko, Kenny Wilk, Jerry Lichner, Ron Muir, Pat Semenek, Judy Dussman, Paulette Ferket, Pat Rowe, and their flower girl, Sharon Behrendt. They spent their honeymoon in the Poconos at the Birchwood resort. They welcomed their first child, Lynn, in July of 1964, followed by Jeffrey in 1966, and Cheryl in 1969. Rich and Sharon spent every summer vacationing with their family at the Lake of the Ozarks and had many fun trips to Wagon Wheel Lodge with friends. In their retirement, they traveled the world, including 16 Princess Cruises, their favorite being the Tahitian Islands and Australia for their 50th anniversary. When they weren’t traveling, you could find them at the casino winning big! They spent the last 20 years as active residents of Del Webb, where they were leaders of their NAC, played bocce ball, and participated in the fishing club. In November 2023, they renewed their vows in Las Vegas for their 60th anniversary. He was a loving and devoted husband for 62 years.
Rich was a dedicated father to Lynn (Michael) Sheridan, Jeff (Deb) Mizialko, and Cheryl (Patrick) Mallon. As a father, Rich was kind, patient, and had the greatest sense of humor. He was not only endlessly supportive of everything his children pursued, but made it a priority to be present and involved. He was the hardest-working man and instilled in them the value of dedication, a strong work ethic, and the importance of family. Some of their most treasured memories are watching him embrace not only his role as a proud grandfather, but also as a l oving great-grandfather. Above all, he loved his family deeply and wholeheartedly.
He will be deeply missed by his grandchildren, Dan Sheridan, Kelly (Ryan) Jandak, Ryan (Julia) and Megan Mallon, Kylie, and Emma Mizialko. Rich set the standard for what it means to be a grandfather and exemplified all the finest qualities of the role. His pride in his grandchildren was evident in the way he was always present, never missing a game, recital, or gathering, and never passing up an opportunity to share their accomplishments with anyone who would listen.
Rich was the adored “Papa” of his great-grandchildren, Sadie and Lucy Sheridan, and Avery and Harper Jandak. They will never forget his endless efforts to make them smile, including his expansive collection of silly hats. Being a great-grandfather brought him endless joy.
Visitation will be held on Friday, May 29 from 4:00 - 7:00 pm at DeFiore Funeral Home, 10763 Dundee Rd., Huntley. A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, May 30, 2026, at 10:00 am also at DeFiore Funeral Home.
For further information contact the funeral home at 847-515-8772 or online condolences may be directed to www.defiorefuneral.com
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