John Emil Hnizdil

wife Marge and many of those he deeply loved.

Marge met John, or Niz , at age 15, and since their days as friends at Ursuline High School in

Youngstown, Ohio, they’ve been side-by-side. For more than 60 years, they were true partners through

all the joys of raising a family and all the challenging seasons of life to include submarine deployments,

multiple moves, and family tragedy. They’ve been holy ordained in God’s eyes and always in the other’s

heart.

John proudly served our nation as a submariner in the United States Navy and was a Plank Owner of

the USS Ulysses S. Grant. In his golden years, John and Marge grew a love for cruising, and their

children learned to ask each other “Are Mom and Dad on another cruise?”

John was always up for cards with family and friends, including Spades, Hand & Foot, and Gizmo. He

was a favored partner as well as a tough opponent. John’s speciality was Double-decked Pinochle. He

and Marge would play marathon games way into the early morning hours with the most daring of

couples.

A man of many names, John was first known as “Marge’s Husband” and Outlaw #1. He was Dad to his

four children and fellow Outlaws, Stephen and Cheryl #5, Angie and Toby #7, Paul and Darlena #9, and

Mitzi and Curtis #6. He was Papa Niz to the numerous “adopted” children who found their way into his

heart and his home. He was The World Famous Uncle Niz to his many nieces and nephews, though

the mystery of why he became famous remains unsolved. John elevated as the family’s second

generation Poppo with the birth of grandchildren and was deeply loved by Eric and Amanda #15, Alicia

and Zach #13, Emily, David, Sammie, Annie, John, Nicholas, Sean, Patrick, George, and Edie. If you’re

wondering which of John’s 12 grandchildren was his favorite. Well…ask them, and they will each

confidently and emphatically proclaim, “It’s Me!” Most recently, the joyful shout of Po rings out in the

voices of his great-granddaughters: Mary Catherine, Charlotte, Roseleen, Amelia, Lillyann, and

Isabelle. All would agree that John’s passion for life was his family, most evidently expressed by the 30

Christmas stockings meticulously hung on the mantle each year.

John had so many names used interchangeably by everyone throughout the generations. Even so, one

name reigned above them all and faithfully reflects his legacy: POPPO.

On Monday, June 3, John’s loved ones from near and far will gather for a Funeral Mass at Christ the

King Catholic Church, 821 South Dale Mabry Highway, in Tampa at 10 a.m. preceded by a brief visitation with family at 9:15am.

The Funeral Mass will also be available by livestream: https://bit.ly/Poppo2024

In lieu of flowers, the family asks you to consider a donation to one of John and Marge’s favorite

charities: St Jude Children’s Research Hospital or H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute

Foundation.