Josephine Czech Michalko Manistee, Michigan Obituary

Josephine Czech Michalko

Josephine Czech Michalko (Grandma Jo) was born in Chicago on January 6, 1922 to Anton and Regina (Bolsenga) Czech, Polish immigrants. She was the youngest of three daughters. She was a graduate of Harrison High School in Chicago and attended one year of business school. Jo worked at Western Electric soldering telephone equipment. Jo met Andrew Michalko at a square dance. When he spotted her smile across the room, he asked her to dance. They married on May 3, 1947 in Chicago and lived there until 1968. They had three daughters who survive; Karyn (John) Kaminecki of Tinley Park, Illinois; Debra (Charles) Hunt of Traverse City, Michigan; and Nancy (Gregory) Billinghurst of Lake Mills, Wisconsin. She was blessed with nine grandchildren who survive her: James (Inna) Kaminecki and Jodi (Steve) Welsh of Chicago, Illinois; Hillary (James) VanLeeuwen of Wyoming, Michigan; Marta Turnbull of Traverse City, Michigan; Randy (Andrea) Billinghurst and Michael Billinghurst of Lake Mills, Wisconsin; Paul (Sara) Billinghurst of Chicago, Illinois; Nathan (Stephanie) Billinghurst of Eau Claire, Wisconsin; Melanie Billinghurst of Janesville, Wisconsin. She was GG Jo to three special great grandchildren; Hannah and Olivia Billinghurst of Lake Mills, Wisconsin. Jo was privileged to witness the birth of great grandson Calvin Welsh of Chicago, Illinois. She is also survived by many nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews. When Jo and Andy moved to Michigan in 1968 as part of reopening the Manistee Drop Forge, they settled in Bear Lake. Jo joined the Triginta Club which created many special friendships in the area. During Bear Lake Days you would find Jo selling hot dogs as part of the clubs charitable fund raising efforts. Health issues caused Jo and Andy to move to Traverse City. While spending her last 12 years at The Village at Bay Ridge, Jo forged many more deep friendships. She enjoyed playing cards and dominoes with her fellow residents and delivering flyers to residents in her wing. She was an excellent housekeeper and bookkeeper. Jo had a great sense of humor and loved to kid around. Most of all Jo cherished the times with her family and frequently travelled to visit and share in their life events. Jo enjoyed traveling whether to Meijer, sites in Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin and even Europe on two occasions in her late 80s. She was able to check her bucket list off with visits to the Grand Canyon and Key West with family members. Jo was preceded in death by her parents, husband Andrew, sisters and their spouses Victoria (Stanley) Surma and Helen (Stanley) Fafara all of the Chicago area, Jo passed away on May 22, 2015 following a stroke the week before. She attended St. Joseph's Church in Onekama and St Francis Church in Traverse City. Mass from the Order of Christian Funerals will be celebrated Friday, May 29, 2015 at 11:00 AM at Saint Joseph Catholic Church in Onekama with Father Ruben Munoz celebrant. Burial will follow at the Fairview Cemetery in Bear Lake. The family will receive friends at the Bear Lake Chapel of the Oak Grove Funeral Home & Cremation Center on Thursday from 7-9PM and at the church Friday morning from 9 AM until time of Mass. Memorials may be directed to the Father Fred Foundation, 826 Hastings Street, Traverse City, MI 49686or the Triginta Club of Bear Lake, c/o Judy Frederickson, 6672 South Shore Drive, Bear Lake, MI 49614. Please visit Jo’s personal page of memories at www.oakgrovefh.com to share a story or photo. The family has entrusted the Oak Grove Funeral Home & Cremation Center with funeral arrangements.
January 6, 1922 - May 22, 201501/06/192205/22/2015
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Josephine Czech Michalko (Grandma Jo) was born in Chicago on January 6, 1922 to Anton and Regina (Bolsenga) Czech, Polish immigrants. She was the youngest of three daughters. She was a graduate of Harrison High School in Chicago and attended one year of business school. Jo worked at Western Electric soldering telephone equipment. Jo met Andrew Michalko at a square dance. When he spotted her smile across the room, he asked her to dance. They married on May 3, 1947 in Chicago and lived there until 1968. They had three daughters who survive; Karyn (John) Kaminecki of Tinley Park, Illinois; Debra (Charles) Hunt of Traverse City, Michigan; and Nancy (Gregory) Billinghurst of Lake Mills, Wisconsin. She was blessed with nine grandchildren who survive her: James (Inna) Kaminecki and Jodi (Steve) Welsh of Chicago, Illinois; Hillary (James) VanLeeuwen of Wyoming, Michigan; Marta Turnbull of Traverse City, Michigan; Randy (Andrea) Billinghurst and Michael Billinghurst of Lake Mills, Wisconsin; Paul (Sara) Billinghurst of Chicago, Illinois; Nathan (Stephanie) Billinghurst of Eau Claire, Wisconsin; Melanie Billinghurst of Janesville, Wisconsin. She was GG Jo to three special great grandchildren; Hannah and Olivia Billinghurst of Lake Mills, Wisconsin. Jo was privileged to witness the birth of great grandson Calvin Welsh of Chicago, Illinois. She is also survived by many nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews. When Jo and Andy moved to Michigan in 1968 as part of reopening the Manistee Drop Forge, they settled in Bear Lake. Jo joined the Triginta Club which created many special friendships in the area. During Bear Lake Days you would find Jo selling hot dogs as part of the clubs charitable fund raising efforts. Health issues caused Jo and Andy to move to Traverse City. While spending her last 12 years at The Village at Bay Ridge, Jo forged many more deep friendships. She enjoyed playing cards and dominoes with her fellow residents and delivering flyers to residents in her wing. She was an excellent housekeeper and bookkeeper. Jo had a great sense of humor and loved to kid around. Most of all Jo cherished the times with her family and frequently travelled to visit and share in their life events. Jo enjoyed traveling whether to Meijer, sites in Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin and even Europe on two occasions in her late 80s. She was able to check her bucket list off with visits to the Grand Canyon and Key West with family members. Jo was preceded in death by her parents, husband Andrew, sisters and their spouses Victoria (Stanley) Surma and Helen (Stanley) Fafara all of the Chicago area, Jo passed away on May 22, 2015 following a stroke the week before. She attended St. Joseph's Church in Onekama and St Francis Church in Traverse City. Mass from the Order of Christian Funerals will be celebrated Friday, May 29, 2015 at 11:00 AM at Saint Joseph Catholic Church in Onekama with Father Ruben Munoz celebrant. Burial will follow at the Fairview Cemetery in Bear Lake. The family will receive friends at the Bear Lake Chapel of the Oak Grove Funeral Home & Cremation Center on Thursday from 7-9PM and at the church Friday morning from 9 AM until time of Mass. Memorials may be directed to the Father Fred Foundation, 826 Hastings Street, Traverse City, MI 49686or the Triginta Club of Bear Lake, c/o Judy Frederickson, 6672 South Shore Drive, Bear Lake, MI 49614. Please visit Jo’s personal page of memories at www.oakgrovefh.com to share a story or photo. The family has entrusted the Oak Grove Funeral Home & Cremation Center with funeral arrangements.

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