On
June 16, 1916, Theodore "Ted" Golisek was born to Szymon (Simon) and
Pelagia (Pearl Klowsowski) Golisek and named "Buleswaf," which name
was later translated to "Theodore" in honor of President Theodore Roosevelt.
Ted's parents migrated to the United
States of America in 1910. Ted's brother, Honore "Conrad" Golisek remained
in Poland and his sister, Jenny, was born during the voyage. Ted's parents first
settled in Detroit, but later moved to Munising in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan,
where they settled permanently near family and friends and where Simon worked
for the railroad. When Ted was old enough, he joined Simon to work on the railroad.
Later, he joined the CCC's.
On March 3, 1940, Ted married Cibble
Mae. The newlyweds moved to Detroit where
Ted worked as a foreman for Aeronautical
Products during the war. Among many projects,
he most savored his time spent on the first
helicopter.
In 1945, Ted, Cibble and their
first three children moved back to Munising, Michigan. Ted worked for the original
Munising Woodenware as a foreman and also logged in the woods and drove heavy
equipment. When the Munising Woodenware closed, Ted commercially fished
on Lake Superior.
In 1952, Ted went to work for the Munising Paper
Mill when Kimberly-Clark acquired the mill into its Technical Paper division.
In 2004, Kimberly-Clark moved the Munising Technical Paper and fiber plant into
the Neenah Paper division, by whom it is owned today along with the Terrace Bay
operations, which happen to be located almost directly across from Munising on
the north shore of Lake Superior.
On January 1, 1979, Ted retired
from Kimberly-Clark. He and his wife began a seasonal migration to Florida for
the next 20 years where they hosted family and friends from around the nation
at their home in Naples, Florida. After 911, Ted and Cibble wintered in Munising.
On
March 30, 2005, Ted joined his loved ones who had gone before him. With family
holding his hands and surrounding him, he passed away at 7:01 p.m. at the Tendercare
Long Term Care Facility in Munising. With terminal cancer, it was Alzheimer's,
which had been induced by anesthesia during a surgery last fall, that took his
ability to fight for life. Throughout his life, Ted's most precious priority was
his family.
In his younger years, he was an novice skier and jumper.
He played tennis, golfed with a passion, and loved to dance and sing. He was an
accomplished musician with a wonderful voice and wrote many songs, one of which,
named 'Mr. Conductor' was sung in his honor at his wake by Granddaughter Melissa
Lynn (Jodi's daughter). Ted could listen to a song and play it by tone, a natural
ability he gave his granddaughter, Melissa. Ted played the guitar, banjo, accordion,
harmonica, piano, and organ. (I even recall him doing a mean drum solo at a party).
Throughout
the years, Ted was an avid hunter and fisherman. In his younger years, he hunted
deer, bear birds, and rabbits with his children; in his later years, he road hunted
birds. But fishing and the water held his greatest interest and he fished his
entire life, even as recent as last summer (see Gitchee
Gummee).
Ted was a member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church.
Sunday was always a day for family and rest. He was one of the Founding Fathers
of the Munising Community Credit Union, a strong advocate for his fellow employees,
and helped build Munising Memorial Hospital. He was also a member of the Alger
County Conservation Club and numerous snowmobile clubs formed locally over time.
Ted is survived by his wife of more
than 65 years, Cibble Mae Golisek of Munising
and four of his five children: Robert, Robertta,
Donna, and Jodi. His son, Leland Roy, preceded
him in death on March 10, 1973.
Ted's
eldest son, Robert James Golisek, and Bob's wife,
Marilyn Hillier, reside in Paw Paw, Michigan. They brought three grandchildren
into Ted's life: Robert Leland, Julie Ann, and Sharyl Ann. Grandson Robert Leland
reside in Atlanta, Georgia. Granddaughter Julie Ann and her husband, Jeff Woodworth,
reside in Paw Paw, Michigan; they brought three great-grandchildren into Ted's
life: Courtney, Kendal, and Kyle. Sharyl Ann resides in Paw Paw with two of Ted's
great-grandchildren, Ryan and Reese.
Ted's eldest daughter, Robertta
Lee Giese, resides with Jack Witty in Munising, Michigan. Robertta's former
husband, Daniel Giese, passed away two years ago. They brought two grandchildren
into Ted's life: Daniel and Dale. Grandson Daniel and his wife, Wendy Sholtes,
reside in Antigo, Wisconsin. They brought a great-grandchild into Ted's life,
Kimberly Lee. Dale resides with his mother in Munising; he and his former wife,
Venessa, brought a great-grandchild, Desirea.
Ted's next daughter,
Donna Jean Debnar, and her husband, Robert Debnar,
reside in Atlanta, Georgia. They brought a grandson into Ted's life, Michael Charles,
who lives in Dallas, Texas with his wife Kristin and Ted's great-granddaughter,
Miranda.
Ted's youngest son, Leland "Butchie"
Roy, who passed away on March 10, 1973 in Hubbard, Texas, was married to Janet
Celest Harger, currently of Cashion, Oklahoma. They brought granddaughter Michelle
Lee into Ted's life, who brought great-grandson Patrick.
Ted's youngest
child, Jodi-Lynn, and her husband, Francis "Frank"
Nelc, reside in Neenah, Wisconsin. Jodi was brought into Ted's life by Donna Jean
and Richard Ely; Ted and Cibble filed for Jodi's adoption in November 1962 and
became her legal parents in January 1964. She was raised and regarded as their
youngest child. Jodi and her former husband, Christopher Davis, brought three
grandchildren into Ted's life: Nicholas, Melissa, and Victoria. Grandson Nicholas
was born on April 9, 1981; he resides in Eau Claire, Wisconsin and brought Ted's
great-grandson, Landon into his life on April 18, 2000. Melissa Lynn (Ted's Mitzi)
joined Ted's family on December 4, 1983 and resides in Neenah, Wisconsin. Victoria
Anntoinette joined Ted's family on November 1, 1986.
Ted is also survived
by sisters, Genevieve Trombly of St. Claire Shores, Argene Golisek of Munising,
Pearl "Tootsie" Gerwatowski of Canton, and Lois (Credlin) Golisek of
Munising, Michigan, along with numerous nieces and nephews.
Family
members whom Ted has joined include his brothers, Honore "Conrad" Golisek
and Carol Golisek, his son, Leland Golisek, his sisters Rose Golisek, Jenny Percy
and Lillian Gerwatowski.
A family vigil was held on Friday, April
1, 2005 from 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. A private showing was held on Saturday, April
2, 2005 from 9:00 a.m. until 10:15 a.m. Funeral services were held on Saturday
at 11:00 a.m. in the Chapel of Bowerman's Funeral Home and officiated by Sacred
Heart Catholic Church's Father Chris. Interment will be at the Maple Grove Cemetery,
Munising, next to his son, Leland.
A memorial fund has been established
with the UP Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association. Family and friends are invited
to make their contributions directly to the association to help with one of the
cruelest diseases on earth, Dementia or Alzheimer's.
If you wish
to make your donation to the Alzheimer's Association in honor of Theodore Golisek,
you may do so via mail, by calling the chapter and charging it to a credit card
or debit card, or online. You may also designate how your funds will be utilized:
Research, Support Services, or as needed.
Via
Mail:
Alzheimer's Association Greater Michigan Chapter
Theodore
Golisek Memorial Fund
710 Chippewa Square, Suite 201
Marquette, MI 49855
Via
Phone:
(906) 228-3910
Online:
Alzheimer's
Association Greater Michigan Chapter Online Donation Form
Please
designate fund usage:
Research* (Funds will be transferred to the National
Research Foundation in Theodore's name)
Chapter Services for Greater Michigan
Chapter
Services for the Greater Upper Peninsula
Chapter Services for Alger County
Chapter
Services for Munising**
Chapter Services may includes services for:
Caregiver
Education
Respite Scholarships
Support Groups
Family Counseling
Safe
Return Scholarships
