Obituaries

Bay City, Michigan

     Our loving husband, father, grandfather and brother passed away Tuesday, July 12, 2011 at Bay Regional Medical Center after a short illness, age 73.  He was born July 31, 1937 in Bay City to the late Frank and Wanda (Cwiklinski) Lijewski.  Jim married Leona S. Glaza in St. Stanislaus Kostka Church on May 25, 1957; she survives him.  He was employed with Delta College for over 35 years as their grounds maintenance supervisor until his retirement in 1996.  Jim was a member of St. Stanislaus Kostka Church and most recently attended mass at St. James Church.  He was also a member of St. George Society.  Jim enjoyed hunting, fishing, maintaining his fruit trees and plants, making homemade sausage, casinos and traveling to Las Vegas.

     Surviving besides his wife, Leona is three children: Cathy (Doug) Newcombe, Brian (Julie) Lijewski and Kevin (Jennifer) Lijewski, nine grandchildren: Bradley and Brandon Newcombe, Heather Bauer, Tara, Joshua, Lauren Lijewski, Jacob, Caleb, Nicholas Lijewski, three sisters: Margaret Prill, Kelly Madden and Patricia Pawlak, one brother in-law, Stanley Puralewski and special friends, Bill (Sue) LeClair and Paul (Geneva) Aki of Las Vegas.  Jim was predeceased by a son, Michael Lijewski, mother and father in-law, Sophie (Frank) Glaza, one brother in-law, Donald Prill and a sister in-law, Rita Puralewski.

     The Funeral Service will be held Monday, July 18, 2011 at 11:00am at Ambrose Funeral Home.  Fr. Dale Orlik will officiate.  Friends may call at the funeral home on Sunday from 2:00 to 8:00pm and Monday after 10:00am.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be considered to the Kidney Foundation or Brian’s House.

Munger, Michigan

     John passed away Thursday, July 7, 2011 at Bay Regional Medical Center, age 84.

Cremation has taken place.  No services are scheduled.

Bay City, Michigan

     Mary passed away Friday, July 8, 2011 at her residence, age 91.  Mary was born August 9, 1919 in Bay City to the late Joseph and Catherine (Koziol Slaby) Madziar.  She married Walter J. Pietryga on July 12, 1941; he survives her.  She was a member of St. Hyacinth Church.

     Surviving besides her husband, Walter is four children: Stephen (Diane) Pietryga, Kathleen (Hank) Foglesong, Michael (Naoko) Pietryga and Dr. Daniel (Paula) Pietryga, MD, ten grandchildren: Russell, Kris, Jason Pietryga, Kurt (Julie) Foglesong, Amanda (Mike) Menzl, Rianne, Tyler, Nickolas, Aaron, and Jacob Pietryga, two great grandchildren, Andrew and Sarah Menzl and one brother, Stanley (Jean) Madziar.  Mary was predeceased by six brothers and sisters: Anna Slaby Sohacki, Martin Slaby, Sophie Madziar Matuszewski, Francis Madziar Jaskiewicz, Joseph and Roman Madziar.

     The Funeral Mass will be celebrated Monday, July 11, 2011 at 12noon at St. Hyacinth Church.  Fr. Dale Orlik will celebrate Mass and entombment will follow in St. Stanislaus Mausoleum.  Friends may call at the Ambrose Funeral Home on Sunday from 2:00 to 5:00pm and Monday after 11:00am at church.  A Parish Vigil Service will be held Sunday at 5:00pm at the funeral home.   In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to St. Hyacinth Church or Heartland Hospice.

     The Pietryga family would like to thank all the staff at Heartland Hospice and Amanda and Mike Menzl for their wonderful care they all extended to Grandma.

Mr. Countegan passed away Thursday July 7, 2011 at Close to Home Assisted Living age 84.  Son of the late John & Mildred (Denis) Countegan he was born January 23, 1927 in Bay City.  John served in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict.  He worked for Serenus Johnson & Son Construction Company for over 27 years before retiring.  John was a member of the Church of St. Boniface.  He enjoyed hunting, fishing, gardening and making wine.

 Surviving is a sister; Shirley Drzewicki, nieces and nephews: Denis (Tammy) Drzewicki, John (Sally) Drzewicki, Susan (Galen) Kaliszewski, Carol (Dr. Steve) Hickner, Amy (Jim) Jones, David (Misa) Canfield, Connie (Ricky) Parks, Tim Canfield, fourteen great-nieces, nephews and eight great-great nieces and nephews.  He was predeceased by a sister: Yvonne Peterson, two brothers in-law: Ben Drzewicki and Larry Canfield.

 Funeral Mass will be celebrated Monday July 11, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. from the Church of St. Boniface.  Fr. Dale Orlik will officiate with private burial in St. Patrick Cemetery.  Friends may call at the Ambrose Funeral Home on Sunday from 2 – 8 p.m. and at the church on Monday after 9:00 a.m.  There will be a parish vigil service for John at 7:00 p.m. Sunday.  Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider the Church of St. Boniface.

www.ambrosefuneralchapel.com

Linwood, MI.   

  Our loving wife, mother and faithful servant of Jesus Christ went home to be with her Lord Sunday, July 3, 2011 at Brian’s House, age 83.  She was born December 31, 1927 in Bay City to the late Ernest and Beatrice (Light) Gauthier.  She married Leslie J. Grischke and together they celebrated 65 years of marriage.  She enjoyed playing piano and spending time with family.

     Surviving besides her husband, Leslie is seven children: Jean (Edwin) Kulka, Michael (Jane) Grischke, Steve, Bruce and Jack Grischke, Mary Beth (Mike) Smith and Jonathan (Vivien) Grischke, 17 grandchildren and 39 great grandchildren.

     Private services were held at Squires Funeral Home.  Pastor Joe Atchinson officiated.  Those planning an expression of sympathy may wish to consider memorials to Brian’s House or a charity of donor’s choice.

Bay City, Michigan    

     Ellen passed away Sunday July 3^rd at the age of 85.  Ellen was born on March 16,1926  in Bay City, Michigan to Homer and Ethel (Blood) Kimball .  She was christened Wanda Ellen Kimball but all who loved her only called her Ellen or Sam. In 1947 Ellen graduated from Bronson Hospital School of Nursing in Kalamazoo as a registered nurse. She then returned to Bay City and started her career at Bay Medical Center (formerly General Hospital). While working the evening shift she met her beloved husband to be William “Bill” Higgins. Bill introduced her to his family as “Sam”, so named because of the beautiful legs of T.V detective Sam Spade’s secretary. He was obviously smitten with her, her legs and her beautiful red hair. They were united in marriage on April 14, 1951. After almost 30 years of marriage Bill preceded her in death.  They had one son, Thomas Lynn who died in 2009.  Also preceding her in death were her twin sister who died at birth, brother Meryl Kimball, and sisters Lucille Ballard and June Staudacher.  

     Ellen is survived by grandsons Chase and Ryan Higgins and her daughter-in-law Janet Higgins who lovingly visited her regularly and over saw her care.  Ellen was an active member of Kawkawlin Community Church , serving on many committees threw out the years.  She was a gatherer of strays, whether they were people or animals, taking care of each one that came her way. But Ellen had a special place in her heart for Boston terriers and none in her family can see one without thinking of her. She was a loyal friend to many, giving freely of her time and nursing skills. Stories abound of her kindness during times of trial in others’ lives. After 60 years, Ellen still stayed in contact with her former nursing school classmates and former coworkers. She so enjoyed her weekly lunches with the “old nurses” as she referred to them. She loved her nieces and nephews as if they were children born of her own body, being actively involved and interested in every part of their lives right up until the end. She was more than just an Aunt she was a mother and grandmother to many. No matter what the season, she seemed to always have a cozy fire burning in the living room of her river side home, which was filled with cats, a dog or two and birdsong. She was a prolific letter writer, still sending out birthday cards and letters until recently. We will always be looking for your birthday card in the mail with a stick of Doublemint in it. She passed on to her nieces the art of crochet, of making pecan pies ,the joy of reading, love of animals and the best pretzel salad ever. She taught us by example how to give, be interested and to be interesting. We will always love you and miss you.

     The Funeral Service will be held Saturday, July 9, 2011 at 11:00am at Squires Funeral Home.  Pastor David Dunn will officiate.  Private interment will take place in Floral Gardens Cemetery.  Friends may call at the funeral home on Friday from 2:00 to 8:00pm and Saturday after 10:00am.  Those planning an expression of sympathy may wish to consider memorials to Kawkawlin Community Church or a charity of donor’s choice.

   “What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us; what we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal.”