Leo Rozycke, Sr.

Leo Rozycke, Sr., age 94, of Gulfport, passed away peacefully on Thursday, February 26, 2026. His long life was marked by devotion to his family, to his country, and to the simple joys that brought him meaning. Born on February 5, 1932, in Madison, Illinois, Leo grew up in a loving Catholic home, attended St. Mary Catholic School, and graduated from Madison High School in 1950. Those early years shaped the steady, hardworking, and quietly joyful man he would become.

In January 1953, Leo proudly joined the United States Air Force and began boot camp in San Antonio, Texas. He trained as a Jet Aircraft Mechanic at Turner AFB in Georgia before being transferred to Ladd AFB in Fairbanks, Alaska. There, after long days on the flight line, he spent two years playing Base Level basketball—an outlet that brought him camaraderie and pride. His team earned Second String All‑Air Force honors, and Leo was named one of the Top Ten All‑Air Force Sports Players of 1956, a distinction he carried with quiet satisfaction throughout his life.

Leo’s military career took him across the world. While stationed at Clark AFB in the Philippines, he was assigned on TDY to Da Nang, Vietnam, serving in Maintenance Control. He later earned the rank of Master Sergeant while in Thailand, where he served as Flight Line Chief of Mechanics. His leadership, technical skill, and unwavering steadiness made him someone others relied on. After 20 years of honorable service, he retired in June 1973 at McChord AFB in Tacoma, Washington.

Following his military retirement, Leo continued his career as an A/C mechanic in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, where he worked for fourteen years before retiring permanently in 1985. He and his beloved wife, Thelma, made their home there, building a life filled with love, routine, and the comfort of shared days. Thelma passed away in 2005, and Leo carried her memory tenderly for the rest of his life.

Leo loved to dance—especially the polka—and he never lost his appreciation for music, movement, and laughter. He also found joy in working with his hands. Pottery became a quiet passion, a way to shape beauty from earth and patience.

In 2021, after complications led to the amputation of his right leg, Leo moved to the Gulfport US Armed Forces Retirement Home. Even in this challenging transition, he chose to move forward. He enrolled in a clay‑modeling class, where he began making pinch pots. What started as a simple pastime grew into a true craft. He spent countless hours in the Arts and Crafts room, refining his technique and creating pieces that reflected both discipline and joy. In 2024, his fellow potters honored him with the title of Chief Potter—a recognition that touched him deeply. His pottery has been proudly displayed and sold throughout South Mississippi, a testament to his talent, dedication, and creative spirit.

Leo was preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Theresa Rozycke; his wife, Thelma; and his siblings Regina “Reggie” Forys, Maryann Rice, and Sylvester “Sil” Rozycke. He is survived by his sons, Leo (Carrie) Rozycke, Jr. of Mobile, Alabama, and Donald (Lisa) Rozycke of Franklin, Tennessee; his sister, Loretta Marcus; his grandchildren and great‑grandchildren and many nieces and nephews who adored him. His family will remember his humor, his stories, his resilience, and the gentle steadiness of his love.