Joseph J. Klakulak Sr.

Mr. Joseph J. Klakulak Sr. 76 of Sterling Heights passed away Sunday, February 3, 2013 at Wm. Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak. Joseph was born on March 26, 1936 in Bad Axe to the late Anthony and Anna (Ogonowski) Klakulak. He married Bernice Leavine on August 24, 1957 at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Port Austin. She preceded him in death on July 20, 2012. Joseph was a graduate of Ubly High School and was a member of both the basketball baseball team. He helped his parents on the farm before going to work in Detroit at Nu Car for 25 years as a mechanic and welder. Joseph was a current parishioner at St. Blasé Catholic Church in Sterling Heights since 1968. Joseph enjoyed hunting, gardening, picking mushrooms, asparagus and black raspberries, golfing, and bowling. He truly enjoyed Polish parties and music, playing cards and drinking beer. Joseph is survived by daughters, Deborah (Gerald) Lickey, Jr, of Beaverton, Diane Klakulak and her man friend, Gerald Gleason of Sterling Heights; son, Joseph Jr. (Mary) Klakulak of Macomb Twp.; one granddaughter, Miss Melinda Klakulak and her boyfriend Angelo Lanni of Macomb Twp.; siblings, Rita and Joseph Edwartowski of Johannesburg, MI, Christine and Anthony Nowak of Cass City, Judith and Michael Mausolf of Harbor Beach, John & Hulda Klakulak of Washington, MI. Joseph was preceded in death by 3 brothers, Leonard, Raymond and an infant brother. Mass of Christian burial will be 11 am Friday, February 8 at St. John Catholic Church in Ubly. Rev. Joseph Griffin, pastor, will officiate. Burial will be in the church cemetery in the spring. Visitation will be at the Zinger-Smigielski Funeral Home in Ubly on Thursday from 2-9 pm and Friday from 10-11 am at St. John Church only.