July 28, 1924 – April 26, 2017
Thaddeus “Ted” Wozniak, 92, the son of Stefan and Karolina Wozniak, was born on July 28, 1924 in Jackson, MI. His long battle with kidney disease ended with him being called home to our Lord on April 26, 2017.
Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, May 1, 2017, at 11:00 A.M. at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 211 Church St., St. Joseph. Burial will follow at Hickory Bluff Cemetery. Friends may visit with the family on Sunday, April 30, 2017, from 3:00 P.M. until 6:00 P.M., at Starks & Menchinger Chapel, 2650 Niles Rd, St. Joseph, with Rosary recited at 5:30 P.M. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Joseph Catholic Church or Lake Michigan Catholic Schools. Those wishing to leave an online condolence may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com.
He served as an MP and Postmaster in the US Army during WWII. (His Honor Flight to Washington, D.C. in October 2014 at age 90 was a memorable experience.) Upon discharge he spent a year with the Trappist Monks in Kentucky. After returning to Jackson he developed a trade in tool & die but yearned to be a small business owner. He married Helen Conley at St. Mary’s Catholic Church on July 3, 1948 in Jackson, MI. celebrating almost 69 years. After operating two small motels during a five year period, they purchased the Stevensville Bella Villa Motel in 1967, which later became the Park Inn. For the next 35 years he put his heart and soul into the business.
Ted served on the Board of the Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce and was the 1984 Business Person of the Year. He also was active with the Southwest Michigan Tourist Council, a member of Lest We Forget and served on his Condo Association Board for 10 years.
During his early retirement years he enjoyed winters in Florida with his grandchildren, golf and the card game “Pay Me.” After returning to Michigan full time in 2002 he was on a bowling league until he was 85. “Pay Me” became a regular Tuesday event with his friends who gathered at his home. Ted and Helen liked to travel, visiting, Alaska, Hawaii, Rome, The Holy Land and a cruise in the Caribbean. Ted learned to make rosaries while in the Army and over the last 25 years he made an astounding 16,782 wire and bead rosaries, donating them to missionaries around the world. He served St. Joseph Catholic Church as a member of the Knights of Columbus, 4th Degree and was a regular participant at weekday Mass. Showing his devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, Ted prayed the Rosary daily.
Besides his wife, Ted is survived by his six children Larry Wozniak-Stevensville, Tom (Jean) Wozniak-Safety Harbor, FL, Fred (Bonnie) Wozniak-Newnan, GA, Carol (Ron) Larro-Suwanee, GA, Pat (Teresa) Wozniak-Benton Harbor and Sue (Bob) Hardy-Stevensville; 11 grandchildren: Erik (Rachael), Steve (Hope), Scott (Rachel), Kevin (Stacy), Jodi, Carrie, Mark (Sharee), Liz, Patty, James, Nick and step-grandson Frank; 15 great grandchildren: Chris, Kathleen, Keagan, Abby, Lily, Emberlynn, Andrew, Ethan, Evan, Caleb, Chloe, Sophie, Zeke, Jackson and Emily. Ted is also survived by two sisters, Stasia Kistka-Jackson, MI and Sophie Cyrocki-Brooklyn, MI, as well as numerous cousins, nieces and nephews, friends and business associates.
Ted was preceded in death by his parents, brothers-in-law Felix Kistka and Ray Cyrocki, sister-in-law Rose Sarrine and daughter-in-law Kathy Wozniak.