Robert G. Pawelski

Robert G. Pawelski, age 94 of Munising, died peacefully yet unexpectedly at his home on Saturday morning, January 15, 2022.  He was born in Detroit to Michael and Josephine (Percha) Pawelski on August 25, 1927.  Bob graduated from St. Alphonsus High School in Dearborn in 1945, where he played basketball as a skinny 145 pound kid and played under Lucky Number 13.  He honored his basketball days by eating 13 grapes every morning for breakfast.  Bob enlisted in the U.S. Navy after high school and served on the USS Currituck during the end of WWII.  When asked if he'd like to give submarine training a try or go home now that the war was over, he chose home.

Bob married Marjorie Monroe in June 25, 1949 and they raised 4 children Pat, Bob, Don and Kaye.  Bob and Marge were married 50 years when Marge preceded him in death in 1999.  He worked for Detroit Edison and then attended firefighting school at the University of Michigan.  Bob worked for the City of Allen Park from 1953 to 1963. He also worked part time during those years at Firwood, a manufacturing tool and die company.  They moved their family to Munising in 1963 and purchased and operated the Hillside Grocery until 1978.  Bob and Marge built a retirement home on Mirror Lake and he continued to work at the Pictured Rocks Golf Club in the summer and K.I. Sawyer Airbase where he plowed snow during the winters until 1997.  Bob was an avid golfer and had many fond memories of his time at Pictured Rocks Golf Course.  He had the second hole in one in the history of the course.  Bob could build or fix most anything and loved his Detroit Lions, Tigers and Red Wings.  One of Bob’s proudest lifetime moments was when he was able to go on the U.P. Honor Flight with fellow WWII veterans.

Bob is survived by his daughters Pat (Bob) Maki, Kaye Methot (Greg Cota), son Don Pawelski, and son-in-law David Methot, grandchildren Kristin (Matthew) Jenkins, Tricia (Brian) Boyer, Raygina (Ryan) Hill and Bobby Methot; great grandchildren Ethan, Jerry, Nathan, Aundraya, Jacob, Abby and Daniel as well as sister-in-law Betty (Monroe) McGuire and numerous nieces and nephews.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Michael and Josephine (Percha) Pawelski, stepfather George Tindale, wife Marge, infant son Tommy, son Bob, sister Dorothy Smithson, brothers Joe Powell, Al Pawelski, Lou Tindale, and Leo Pawelski.

Services will be held on Friday, January 21, 2022.  Visitation will be at the Bowerman Funeral Home from 11:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m.   At 1:00 p.m. there will be a service where stories and memories can be shared. Father Michael Ocran will celebrate Bob’s Mass of Christian Burial at Sacred Heart Church in Munising at 2:00 p.m.    Bob will be escorted by Bob Maki, Greg Cota, Donald Pawelski, David Methot, Bobby Methot, and Patrick Dudley.

Graveside services will be at the Maple Grove Cemetery in Munising on Wednesday, June 1, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. military honors will be rendered by the American Legion and Vietnam Veterans Honor Guard.