Obituaries

Bay City, Michigan

     Irene passed away Friday, May 27, 2011 at Brittany Manor in Midland, age 90.  She was born September 17, 1920 in Bay City to the late Robert and Ethel (Swazey) Thomas, Sr.  Irene married Harry Drumm; he predeceased her. She retired from Dow Chemical Company after 30 years of dedicated service.  Irene loved to go dancing with her sisters, Helen Chesterfield and Leona Sprague.

     The Funeral Service will be held Monday, June 6, 2011 at 1:00pm at Squires Funeral Home.  Pastor Joe Atchinson will officiate and private interment will be in Floral Gardens Cemetery.  Friends may call at the funeral home on Monday, June 6^th from 11:00am until the time of service.  Those planning an expression of sympathy may wish to consider memorials to Heartland Hospice.

Bay City, Michigan

     Our loving husband, father, son, brother and friend passed away Wednesday, May 25, 2011 at Bay Regional Medical Center, age 51.  The son of Richard B. and Kathleen (Oblender) Leppek, Terry was born March 26, 1960 in Bay City and has lived here all his life.  Terry married the love of his life, Pamela A. Lesniak on August 8, 1981; she survives him.  He retired in January of 2011 with over 26 years of dedicated service with Serenus Johnson Construction.  He was also in the Laborer’s Union #1098 for 30 years.  Terry was a member of St. Hyacinth Church, an usher and volunteered many hours cooking for the church on various dinner benefits and breakfasts.  Terry was very active in his Daughters’ sports at All Saints and over the past several years at John Glenn.  Terry spent numerous hours working at Tri-City Motor Speedway.  He was a regular outdoorsman and enjoyed deer hunting, snowmobiling in the UP and spending time with his family, friends and his best companion, Tonka.  Terry will always be remembered for his baseball cap, hanky in his back pocket and his bib overalls.

     Terry is survived by his best friend and beloved wife, Pamela, four beautiful daughters: Terra (Ben) Hugo, Tabitha (Craig Lynch), Tylha, and Tessa Leppek, his mother, Kathleen Leppek, one sister, Tracey (Timothy) Maguire, one brother, Timothy (Sherri) Leppek, father in-law, John Lesniak (Gladys Przygocki), sisters and brother in-law, Michelle Lesniak, Michael (Ellen) Lesniak, Regina (Darrell) Danks and Amy Lesniak-Foote, several nieces, nephews, and many close dear relatives and friends.  Terry was predeceased by his father, Richard B. Leppek and his mother in-law, Virginia Lesniak.

    The Funeral Mass will be celebrated Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 10:00am at St. Hyacinth Church.  Fr. Edward J. Konieczka will celebrate Mass and interment will follow in Floral Gardens Cemetery.  Friends may call at the Ambrose Funeral Home on Monday from 11:00am to 9:00pm and at church on Tuesday after 9:00am.  A Parish Vigil Service for Terry will be held Monday at 7:00pm.  In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider memorials to “Family Wishes.”

     Terry will leave a lasting legacy and will forever be in the thoughts and prayers of hundreds of friends he made along his wonderful journey in life.  Toast to Terry with a beer and brat…TURN THE PAGE!  “Thanks for the memories, we love you!”

Bay City, Michigan

 Miss. Guzdzial passed away suddenly Saturday morning May 21, 2011 at her home age 94 years.  Daughter of the late Michael & Catherine ( Gerulski) Guzdzial she was born October 10, 1916 in Bay City.  Gertrude worked at Bay City Chevrolet for many years before retiring.  She was a member of St. Hedwig Church and enjoyed traveling.

 Surviving are two dear friends; Richard Malusi and Eugena “Bootsy” Szeszulski.  She was predeceased by three sisters and two brothers; Helen (Ed) Kubik, Theresa, Gladys “Lottie”, Ed and Phil “Mike” Guzdzial.

 Funeral Mass and committal service will take place Friday May 27, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. from St. Hedwig Church.  Rev. Fr. Rick Filary will officiate with burial in St. Stanislaus Cemetery.  Friends may call at the church only on Friday from 9:00 a.m. until time of mass.  Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider St. Hedwig Church.

www.ambrosefuneralchapel.com

Saginaw, Michigan

(formerly of Sterling)

     Mary, age 83, passed away Saturday, May 21, 2011 at the Lutheran Home of Frankenmuth.  She was born May 29, 1927 in Gibsonburg, Ohio to the late Clarence and Eva (Lashaway) Koenders.  Mary married Andrew Ludyjan on February 9, 1946; he predeceased her on December 13, 2004.

     Surviving are three children: Marian (James) Peter, Michael (Catherine) Ludyjan, and Joan (Paul) VanAlstine, five grandchildren, six great grandchildren, two brothers: Robert (Denise) and Larry (Wanda) Koenders, and two sisters: Dora Manarky and Beverly (James) Berry.  Mary was predeceased by five brothers and sisters.

     The Funeral Service will be held Thursday, May 26, 2011 at 11:00am at Ambrose Funeral Home.  Nancy Rivet will officiate and interment will follow in St. Stanislaus Cemetery.  Friends may call at the funeral home on Wednesday from 2:00 to 8:00pm and Thursday after 10:00am.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to Johnny Burke Children’s Foundation.

Bay City, Michigan

     Dorothy passed away Friday, May 20, 2011 at Bay Regional Medical Center, age 97.  She was born August 26, 1913 in Bay City to the late John and Stella (Tomczak) Herek.  She married Barney “Floyd” Banaszak on June 8, 1935 in St. Stanislaus Kostka Church; he predeceased her on October 19, 2000.  Dorothy was a member of St. Stanislaus Church, Rosary/Altar Sodality Group #38, Felician Sisters Auxiliary, League of Catholic Men & Women, and a life member of the Senior Citizens.  Dorothy enjoyed fishing, knitting, going to meetings for various organizations and loved baking her delicious cookies.

     Surviving is a daughter, Rose M. Banaszak, five grandchildren: Dr. Renee (Dr. Gaddy) Lassiter, Ronald Banaszak, Michele Parker, Dr. Mary (Dr. Alex) Kirby, and Tammy (Keith) Saunders, thirteen great grandchildren: Austin, Kayla, Logan, Rhonda Banaszak, Aaron, Brandon, Cameron Parker, Nicholas, Claire, Anna Kate Kirby, Alex, Meredith, and Chandler Saunders, one brother, Guy Herek, daughter in-law, Trudy Smith, many nieces and nephews.  Dorothy was predeceased by a son, Ronald Banaszak, two brothers: Vic and Ray Herek and a sister in-law, Cecil Herek.

     The Funeral Mass will be celebrated Wednesday, May 25, 2011 at 10:00am at St. Stanislaus Kostka Church.  Fr. Rick Filary will celebrate Mass and private interment will be in St. Patrick Cemetery.  Friends may call at the Ambrose Funeral Home on Tuesday from 1:00 to 8:00pm and Wednesday at church after 9:00am.  Members of St. Stan’s Rosary/Altar Sodality Group #38, Felician Sisters Auxiliary and Senior Citizens will pray the Rosary Tuesday at 2:00pm, followed later by a Parish Vigil Service for Dorothy at 7:00pm.  Those planning an expression of sympathy may wish to consider memorials to Family Wishes or St. Stanislaus Campus Development Fund.

     Dorothy’s family would like to thank all the staff at Bay Regional Medical Center, especially the staff in ER, CCU, 4^th and 5^th floors for their kind and gentle touch they extended Dorothy and her whole family.

Kawkawlin, Michigan

MaryEllen Marker passed away Wednesday May 18, 2011 at Brian’s House surrounded by her family age 79 years.  Daughter of the late Nick Sr. & Josephine (Osantowski) Fischer she was born November 10, 1931 in Gilford Twp.  She married Victor R. Marker June 3, 1950 in St. Elizabeth Church.  He predeceased her December 13, 2006.  MaryEllen worked as a Nurse’s Aide at the Osteopathic Hospital in Bay City.  She was a member of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church and enjoyed listening to music.

Surviving are six children; Mary Lou (Jerry) Palmer, Richard (Emily) Marker, Linda Anderson (Jaime), Judy Krause (Larry), Dale (Audrey) Marker, Vici Marker, nine grandchildren; Larry Palmer, Kerry (Duane) Dexter, Jason (Dawn) Marker, Lisa (Gill) Parsons, Leonard Anderson (Joella), Dale Anderson, Tim (Libby) Marker,

Amanda Marker, Ethan Krause and nine great-grandchildren.   Also surviving is one sister; Janet (Delbert) Heinlein, one brother in-law; Dale Yott and three sisters in-law; Kathleen Marker, Lynn Fischer and Avis Browning.  She was predeceased by a son in-law; Leonard Anderson, a great-grandson; Jameson, one brother; Nick Fischer Jr. and two sisters; Isabelle Fischer and Johanna Yott.

Funeral Mass will be celebrated Saturday May 21, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. from St. Vincent de Paul Church.  Fr. Robert Meissner will officiate with entombment in Calvary Mausoleum.  Friends may call at the Squires Funeral Home on Friday from 4 – 9 p.m. and on Saturday at the church after 9:00 a.m.  There will be a parish vigil service for MaryEllen on Friday at 6:30 p.m.  Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider Brian’s House or donor’s favorite charity.

www.squiresfuneralchapel.com