Obituary for William "Buzz" Wandrych
William “Buzz” Wandrych, age 88, of Manistee, passed away Saturday May 28, 2022, at home, surrounded by family.
Buzz was born July 14th, 1933, in Manistee to Edward and Gladys Wandrych. He graduated from St. Joseph High School in 1951. He proudly served in the U.S. Army and was honorably discharged in 1955. He married Alice Pelarski, on November 7th, 1959, at St. Joseph Church in Manistee. Buzz and Alice enjoyed 62 years together.
Buzz attended Barber School and worked as a Barber in Manistee before becoming a forklift operator at Morton Salt, where he retired in 1995 after 23 years.
He had a passion for the outdoors. He enjoyed hunting and fishing, mushroom and wild blueberry picking, and just being out in the woods. He shared that love of the outdoors with his children and grandchildren, taking them fishing and exploring the woods in pursuit of morels. He enjoyed bowling, was an avid golfer and was a very familiar face at his favorite course, Fox Hills. In his younger years he enjoyed playing men’s slow-pitch softball. Buzz was also a talented carpenter.
He is survived by Alice, wife of 62 years; son Tom Wandrych of Helena, MT; daughters Cindy (Scott) Ralston of Oxford, MI and Pam (Bob) Hall of Grand Rapids, MI; grandsons Justin Wandrych, Jake Wandrych, and Ben Ralston, and granddaughter Taylor Hall; 3 great grandchildren; sister, Lois (Jim) Symanski of Manistee; brother James Wandrych of Powell, OH; brother-in-law Don Pelarski and sister-in law Sandy Pelarski; sister-in-law Eileen Pelarski and Aunt Dorothy Holmes, also of Manistee, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
Buzz was preceded in death by their infant daughter Karen, brother Denny Wandrych, grandson Douglas Ralston, sister-in-law Sandra and her husband Arnie Merkey, and sister-in-law Sandy Wandrych.
A Celebration of Life for Buzz will be held on Saturday June 4, 2022, at 11:00 AM at Oak Grove Funeral Home in Manistee. Family will receive friends from 10:00 AM until the time of service.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Hospice of Michigan.
Please feel free to share a memory or photo with Buzz’s family at www.oakgrovefh.com. The family has entrusted funeral arrangements with Oak Grove Funeral Home & Cremation Center of Manistee.
Buzz was born July 14th, 1933, in Manistee to Edward and Gladys Wandrych. He graduated from St. Joseph High School in 1951. He proudly served in the U.S. Army and was honorably discharged in 1955. He married Alice Pelarski, on November 7th, 1959, at St. Joseph Church in Manistee. Buzz and Alice enjoyed 62 years together.
Buzz attended Barber School and worked as a Barber in Manistee before becoming a forklift operator at Morton Salt, where he retired in 1995 after 23 years.
He had a passion for the outdoors. He enjoyed hunting and fishing, mushroom and wild blueberry picking, and just being out in the woods. He shared that love of the outdoors with his children and grandchildren, taking them fishing and exploring the woods in pursuit of morels. He enjoyed bowling, was an avid golfer and was a very familiar face at his favorite course, Fox Hills. In his younger years he enjoyed playing men’s slow-pitch softball. Buzz was also a talented carpenter.
He is survived by Alice, wife of 62 years; son Tom Wandrych of Helena, MT; daughters Cindy (Scott) Ralston of Oxford, MI and Pam (Bob) Hall of Grand Rapids, MI; grandsons Justin Wandrych, Jake Wandrych, and Ben Ralston, and granddaughter Taylor Hall; 3 great grandchildren; sister, Lois (Jim) Symanski of Manistee; brother James Wandrych of Powell, OH; brother-in-law Don Pelarski and sister-in law Sandy Pelarski; sister-in-law Eileen Pelarski and Aunt Dorothy Holmes, also of Manistee, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
Buzz was preceded in death by their infant daughter Karen, brother Denny Wandrych, grandson Douglas Ralston, sister-in-law Sandra and her husband Arnie Merkey, and sister-in-law Sandy Wandrych.
A Celebration of Life for Buzz will be held on Saturday June 4, 2022, at 11:00 AM at Oak Grove Funeral Home in Manistee. Family will receive friends from 10:00 AM until the time of service.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Hospice of Michigan.
Please feel free to share a memory or photo with Buzz’s family at www.oakgrovefh.com. The family has entrusted funeral arrangements with Oak Grove Funeral Home & Cremation Center of Manistee.