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Obituary
John Pelic, 80, of Jackson, formerly of Carleton, MI, passed away on Thursday, February 20, 2025 at Frankel Cardiovascular Center, University of Michigan Hospital in Ann Arbor.
Born on April 15, 1944 in Jastkowice, Poland, John was the first child born to Joseph and Magdalena (Wala) Pelic. He attended trade school in Stalowa Wola, Poland and began his career as a lathe operator.
In 1964 at age 20, John bravely immigrated alone to the United States and made his home in Detroit where he met his lifelong friends who became our extended family for the next 60 years. One Sunday afternoon, he and his best friend Zygmunt Niedziolek visited friends at a farm in Carleton, MI where he met the prettiest Polish girl, Susan (Urbanski), who he would make his wife on October 7, 1967. Together they had three children: Jane Marie, Lisa Anne, and Mark Damian and continued a married partnership that spanned 57 wonderful years.
John’s life revolved around three important things: work, family, and polka dancing. John was a member of the Polish National Alliance, the Belgian Club, Polka Boosters, and a member of Queen of the Miraculous Medal Church. He didn’t miss a dance or an opportunity to work outside on his pristine yard and gardens. Upon his death he gave the gift of his leg bones to cancer patients, so that they will continue to work and dance for someone else in need. To honor Susan, a breast cancer survivor, he donated skin to women undergoing reconstruction after breast cancer.
He will be remembered as a man who worked tirelessly to provide for his family. John retired from General Motors, Willow Run plant after 33 years then decided retirement wasn’t in his Polish, Russian, nor English vocabulary. He continued to work another 13 years at Manheim Detroit in Carleton before officially retiring to a home in Jackson to be near his granddaughters for the last 4 years of his life. He definitely instilled his strong work ethic in his son, daughter, and granddaughters who are in awe of all he accomplished.
Surviving are his wife Susan and daughter Lisa both of Jackson, son Mark of Sherman Oaks, CA, granddaughters Gracyn Freund of Cedar Rapids, IA and Carys Freund of East Lansing, sister-in-law Czeslawa Pelic of Dearborn, brother Eugene (Wieslawa) Pelic of Dearborn Heights, sister Zofia (Jozef) Maslach of Pysznica, Poland, brother Mieczyslaw Pelic also of Pysznica, Poland, brother Aleksander (Mary) Pelic of Dearborn Heights and many loved nephews and nieces in Poland, Austria, Michigan and Florida.
John was preceded in death by his brother Stanislaw, his parents, his in-laws Chester and Jane (Gryszkiewcz) Urbanski, daughter Jane, and all of his best friends: Alfred Lynch, “Big John” Misztura, Bronek Maslach, Eddie Suchowolec, Tony Kulfan, and Ziggy Niedziolek – who had the vodka shots and John’s homemade kielbasa ready for their reunion.
Visitation will be held on Monday, February 24, 2025 from 2-8 p.m. at Michigan Memorial Funeral Home, 30895 W. Huron River Drive, Flat Rock. He will lie in state at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, February 25, 2025 at St. Stephen Catholic Church in New Boston, with Mass at 11 a.m. Rev. John Hedges will officiate. Entombment will follow at Michigan Memorial Park, Flat Rock.
John was especially proud of his granddaughters and the education they received at Lumen Christi Catholic School. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in his memory may be made and noted “In memory of John Pelic, proud Grandfather of Gracyn and Carys Freund” and mailed to Lumen Christi Catholic School, 3483 Spring Arbor Rd, Jackson, MI 49203.
