Stephen Szucs

Stephen Szucs, of Topeka, died August 26, 2012, at Stormont-Vail Hospital. He was born in Edgewater, New Jersey on March 2, 1920, the son of Hungarian immigrant parents Stephen and Maria Disco Szucs. When Stephen was very young, his father was seriously burned in an industrial accident at a sugar factory. The young family had to return to Europe to allow relatives to help the family and father to recover. As a large portion of Hungary?s land was divided into a number of countries after WWI, they returned to their relatives who now lived in an area of Czechoslovakia that was predominantly Hungarian. In 1948, Stephen, with the help of an uncle, returned to Connecticut where the uncle?s family now lived. Stephen worked for Bridgeport Brass in the shipping department until his retirement. He was a member and involved with the brotherhood of the Hungarian (Calvinist) Reformed Church in Norwalk, Connecticut. He enjoyed vegetable gardening, watching wrestling on TV, and spending time with his grandchildren. He married Julia (Lakatos) Mester in Bridgeport, Connecticut on June 10, 1978. After they both retired, they moved to Topeka to allow them to be closer to their grandchildren. Julia died on June 23, 2000. Stephen is survived by his step-son Joe Mester and his wife Julie of Topeka, two granddaughters, Jessica Mester of Cleveland, Ohio and Monica Mester of Lee?s Summit, Missouri, nieces Julia Horkaiova, Maria Solcova, and Ilona Misak of Slovakia, and cousins Mary Czako and Jolana Tar, both of Connecticut, and Betty Fejes of New York. He was also predeceased by his sister Elizabeth. Stephen will lie in state at the Brennan-Mathena Funeral Home on Friday, September 7, after 2:00 p.m. where the family will receive friends from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, September 8, at 10 a.m. at the funeral home. Interment will follow in Mt. Hope Cemetery. As Stephen was a avid gardener, memorial contributions may be made via the funeral home to the Shawnee County Parks and Recreation Foundation for use at the Reinisch Rose Garden. Online condolences and fond memories may be left at www.brennanmathenafh.com.