Andrzej Hempel

Andrzej "Andrew" Hempel, 86, passed away November 12, 2012 in his Wyomissing residence.

His wife, Krystyna (Milewska) Hempel, died August 13, 2008.

Born in Warsaw, Poland, he was the son of the late Jozef and Urszula (Laguna) Hempel.

He was a 1955 graduate of University of London with a BS in Mechanical Engineering.

Andrzej worked as technical officer for Imperial Chemical Industries, Ltd., Northwich (U.K.) from 1955 to 1960 and as a project engineer for Canadian Industries, Ltd., Edmonton, Canada from 1960 to 1967. In 1967 he emigrated to the U.S. and worked as a technical supervisor engineer for Hercules, Inc., Covington, VA from 1967 to 1970 and retired as a project manager from Exxon Chemical Company, Pottsville, PA in 1991. After retirement he continued to work as a consultant engineer in Reading.

He was a member of St. Mary R.C. Church, Reading.

During World War II, Andrzej was an officer in the Polish army on the western front.

Andrzej was a history enthusiast and in year 2000 published a book "Poland in World War II: An Illustrated Military History ". He also enjoyed tennis and skiing.

He was a founding member and former secretary of Polonia Solidarity Association, a member and a regional vice president for Polish American Congress (P.A.C.) and a member of the Kosciuszko Foundation.

Andrzej is survived by his son, Mark Hempel, Marblehead, MA, his daughter, Julie O'Rourke, Vancouver, BC; his step-son, Jerzy Suchara, Lodz, Poland and his step-daughter, Hanna M. Kazimierczyk, West Chester, PA and his five grandchildren: Jacob Hempel, Cedar O'Rourke, Tomasz Kazimierczyk, Adam Kazimierczyk and Marek Kazimierczyk.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday at 10 a.m. in St. Mary's Church, 250 South 12th Street, Reading. A visitation will be held 9 to 10 a.m. in the church. Burial will be in The National Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa, 654 Ferry Rd, Doylestown, PA 18901. Edward J. Kuhn Funeral Home, Inc., West Reading is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be recorded at www.kuhnfuneralhome.com.