Henry J Mierlak

Henry J. Mierlak, 74, a longtime Buchanan resident, died Sunday in Wellbrooke of South Bend, after a brief illness. Henry retired from Electro-Voice, in Buchanan, where he had worked for more than 30 years and was a senior engineer for aviation electronics. He also had owned electronics design and repair businesses for more than 10 years in Buchanan. He was one of those rare individuals who from an early age know exactly what they want to do as a career. His parents once reminisced about how as a young child Henry took apart everything mechanical in their house, including all the door knobs. Fortunately, he could fix it all, too. He was fun to be around, generous and unflappably good-natured. He liked loud rock music, classic TV shows, and always had the most intriguing gadgets. Henry was born on Dec. 12, 1942 in Chicago, where he lived until moving with his parents, Hank and Lillian Mierlak, to Rolling Prairie, as a teenager. Both of his parents preceded him in death. He studied at Indiana University, Purdue University and Valparaiso University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in engineering. He was an Army veteran. On March 25, 1967, he married Pamela Dale, in South Bend. She survives, along with three children: Wendy (James) Cretacci, of Granger; Jill Torrey (Michael), of Mattawan, Mich.; and Eric Mierlak (Stacey), of Berrien Springs. Also surviving are four granddaughters, Alexandra Mierlak, Astin and Amara Torrey, and Abigail Mierlak, and a sister-in-law, Chris (Greg) Benninghoff, of Berrien Center. Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, May 25, 2017 at Swem Chapel, in Buchanan, where a funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, May 26, 2017. Cremation will follow. Memorial contributions, in lieu of flowers, may be made to the American Stroke Association. Those wishing to send condolences or sign the guest book online may do so at www.swemchapel.com .