Frank C. "Poppy" Szymanski, age 77, of Peet Hill, Laceyville, PA, passed away unexpectedly at his home on Sunday, May 19, 2019.                                       .

Mr. Szymanski was born in Somerville, NJ, in Somerset Co. on April 21, 1942, the son of the late Frank and Helen Koharki Szymanski. Growing up in New Jersey, Frank was a graduate of the Hillsborough High School.

Frank was the husband of the former Barbara "Bea" A. Riker, who he married on November 13, 1976. They were married for over 38 years, until her passing away on January 16, 2015.

During his younger years, while growing up, it was always his dream to become a farmer and someday owning his own farm. Willing to do anything to earn a living, he started working for the Raritan Disposal Co., in Raritan, NJ. He then got a job at the Johanna Farms, in Flemington, NJ. After moving to Laceyville, PA in Bradford Co., he fulfilled his childhood dream of owning his own dairy farm. During his many years as a farmer, he enjoyed having many types of animals, on his farm. Frank and his wife also worked a stone quarry, F&B Stone Quarry on their farm. After his farming days, Frank was employed at P&G Paper in Mehoopany, PA, employed as a security guard, retiring after 20 years.

In his spare time, Frank, enjoyed hunting and fishing, on the family farm on Peet Hill. He also loved gardening, carpentry, and golfing whenever he would get the chance. Most of all, he loved just being able to get to spend time with his family, being the BEST Dad, Grandfather, and Great-Grandfather.

Surviving are his children, Howard M. (Dawn) Heft of GlenGardner, NJ; Donald C. Heft Jr., of Ohio; Mark A. (Donna) Heft, of Tunkhannock, PA; and Elizabeth "Liz" (Lyndon) Wilbur, of Springville, PA, 9 grandchildren, 6 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by two brothers, Stanley Szymanski, and John Szymanski, both of New Jersey, and many nieces and nephews. Besides his wife and his parents, he was also preceded in death by a great-granddaughter Taryn Ann, and a sister Helen Szymanski.

Memorial services will be held on Friday afternoon, May 24, 2019 at the Sheldon Funeral Home, 459 Main St., Laceyville, PA. at 3:00 PM. Family and friends may call at the funeral home on Friday from 1:00 PM until the time of the service. Interment will be at a later date in the Musconetcong Valley Cemetery in Hampton, NJ.

In lieu of flowers, those wishing may make memorial donations, in Frank's name, to the March of Dimes, 515 Madison Ave., 20 ^th Floor, New York, NY 10222.

Online condolences may be made at www.sheldonfuneralhomes.com