John Thomas Woodaz

Rumely

John Thomas Woodaz, age 92, of Rumely, died Thursday, March 16, 2017 at the D.J. Jacobetti Home for Veterans in Marquette.  He was born on December 23, 1924 in Munising to the late Jacob and Anna (Kaplan) Woodaz.  John grew up in Munising, graduated from Sacred Heart School, and attended Wm. G. Mather High School.  John entered into the U.S. Army during WWII on March 18, 1943 and served in the Asiatic Pacific Theater until February 19, 1946.  When he returned home, John married his childhood friend Patricia St. Andrew on July 13, 1946 and together they raised their ten children with firm, yet gentle and fair hands.  John worked at Atlas Plywood until it closed and then went to work for the Munising Paper Company in 1952.  He retired from Kimberly Clark in 1987 as the Power House Assistant Fireman.  John and Pat had moved to the family farm in Rumely in 1962, and with the help of their children ran a self-sustaining farm for many years, long before it was cool to be self-sustaining.  John was a member of the Polish American Society and the American Legion.  He enjoyed farming, hunting, and gardening.  John loved being surrounded by kids throughout his life and always welcomed them into his home.

John is survived by ten children – John Lee (Carmella) Woodaz of Lutz, FL, Thomas Jacob (Katherine) Woodaz of Escanaba, Francis Theodore (Janice) Woodaz of East Tawas, MI, Catherine Marie (Robert) Hill of Tampa, FL, Christopher Stanley (Patty) Woodaz of Hiawassee, GA, Sue Ann (Darwin) Britton of Harvey, MI, Virginia Therese (Chris) Curtis of Greenville, MI, Camille L. (Donald) Quigley of Ford River, MI, Steven Allen (Sherry Dodge) Woodaz of Rumely, and Daniel Alexander (Marci) Woodaz of Lexington, SC; thirty one grandchildren; forty-six great-grandchildren; six great-great-grandchildren with one on the way; sisters – Helen Rzanca and Stella Cabanaw of Munising; brother-in-law – Francis (Freda) St. Andrew of North Fork, CA; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife of over sixty-seven years – Pat Woodaz; siblings and in-laws – Bernice Woodaz, Theodore “Tage” (Betty) Woodaz, Cecelia Woodaz, Mary (John) Kordish, Bernard “Bruno” Woodaz, Hubert (Audrey) St. Andrew, August “Red” Rzanca, William Cabanaw, Betty Ann (Harold) Schierschmidt, Ernest (Jean) St. Andrew, Esther St. Andrew, Norman (Midge) St. Andrew, and Irene St. Andrew; and grandchildren – Cristi Curtis and Michael Hill.

Services will be held at the Bowerman Funeral Home in Munising on Monday, March 20, 2017.  The Rosary will begin at 11:30 a.m.  Visitation will be from 12:00 noon until 2:00 p.m.  The American Legion and Vietnam Veterans Honor Guard will conduct military honors beginning at 2:00p.m.  Pastor Jim Duehring will conduct John’s funeral service after the military honors.

Memorials are requested to be made to the Jacobetti Activities Fund in John’s name.