Harry Anthony Ziembo, Atomic Veteran and beloved Father, Grandfather, Brother, and Uncle passed from this life at home early Monday morning March 7, 2022. Nineteen days short of his 94th birthday, Harry was born on March 26, 1928, on the Prairie Farm in Alicia, Michigan (Albee Township – Saginaw).
A unique character extraordinaire, Harry was defined by his Atomic Veteran military service, his life as a pilot and local barnstormer, as one-half of Ollie & Ollie Excavating & Oil Field Services, his Jack of all trades ability, his cats – all named Fuzz, gardening, and of course his family and friends.
As a sailor and Atomic Veteran in the United States Navy, Harry was present aboard the USS Hesperia in the Bikini Atoll when Operation Crossroads Baker Test of the atomic bomb took place. As Harry often related, “The officers had eye protection, the sailors were just told not to look.” A special credential Harry earned as a naval seaman was entry into the Sacred Order of the Golden Dragon. After his naval career, Harry served with the United States Merchant Marines and United States Coast Guard as a fireman. He was a lifelong member of VFW Post 8275 and a member of the National Association of Atomic Veterans.
After his military career, Harry took to the sky and lived a pilot’s life. He loved flying along the shore of Lake Huron and, due to engine failure, had to once land along the beach. Harry was a member of the Short Wing Piper Club and the Experimental Aircraft Association.
Harry was a machinist and painter at Saginaw Malleable Iron Foundry and had been retired for over 45 years. Knowing he had been retired far more years than he had worked was a fact he often found humorous, yet he was always grateful for the middle-class lifestyle afforded a UAW employee with an 8th grade education.
Living in Twining all his adult life, Harry provided 28 years of dedicated service to the Mason Township Board and township residents. His Jack of all trades ability meant that Harry was always fixing something for somebody.
Harry is lovingly survived by his children Dr. Joanne (Mike Vogl) Ziembo-Vogl, Tom (Connie) Ziembo, and Cheryl (Steve) Zaske Andrejewski; Grandchildren Jill (Steve Grove) Cozart, Dale (Samantha) Ziembo, Michelle Kent, Tom (Kerry) Zaske, Dustin (Jeanette) Zaske, Chad (Jill) Zaske, Ashley (Matt) Madigan, Noelle Andrejewski, and Keara Andrejewski; seventeen Great-Grandchildren and six Step-Great Grandchildren; Sisters Sue Noel and Kay (Jeff) Osier; special friends Nancy and Fred Heideman, and his beloved cat Fuzz. Harry is now reunited with his grandparents Francis (Miklovic) and Michael Urban, his parents Mary (Urban) and Thomas Ziembo, his brother Richard Ziembo, and many aunts, uncles, and cousins.
Honoring Harry’s wishes, cremation has taken place. While no funeral service will be held, there will be a military graveside interment at a date to be announced later in the year. Memorial contributions may be made to Sunrise Side Senior Services Meals on Wheels, 131 Clyde, P.O. Box 36, Omer, MI 48749.
The family wishes to extend special thanks to this organization and especially the delivery drivers who Harry considered friends.
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