Bryan Sosinski

Dedicated, disciplined, courageous, and driven to succeed are just a few words that describe the extraordinary man who Bryan Sosinski was each and every day. He was a wrestler through and through who never backed down from a challenge, even when the deck was completely stacked against him. As much as he was a serious and stoic wrestler, Bryan was also a tender and compassionate family man who cherished his wife, his extended family members, and his God. He used his talent and passion for the sport he loved to inspire others to be their best, proving that being good at anything is simply a matter of the heart. Bryan was a true inspiration to all who were within his reach. He will never be forgotten.

The 1970s were an eventful time in our nation’s history when there were advances in civil rights, the unprecedented Watergate investigation, and groups like Aerosmith, the Beatles, and The Who topped the charts. It was during this eventful time that a young couple from Jackson, Michigan, was pleased to announce the birth of their son on August 12, 1973. Bryan Paul was the third of four children born to his parents, Benedict and Lillian (Cary) Sosinski, and he was raised in the family home in Jackson alongside his siblings, Debbie, Chris, and Amy. His father was an engineer while his mother was a busy homemaker.

Right from the start Bryan was a bustle of activity. Whether he was hunting and trapping varmints, or his sister on two occasions, riding into his father’s work on his big wheel, or hiding in the end tables until his mother was convinced that one of her children was missing, he was the heartbeat of the Sosinski family. Since he was known to get into his fair share of mischief, Bryan used the time he was grounded to his room to flex his muscles of creativity such as the time he jumped out of the second story window of his bedroom wearing all of his sweatshirts and Kleenex boxes he fashioned for shoes. In fact, it has been said that it was Bryan’s sparkling brown eyes that allowed him to return to the family car after being dropped off at St. Joseph’s Orphanage! At only 50 pounds he learned to be quick on his feet. To his brother, Chris’ amazement, he’d maneuver a four foot light saber when they’d play.

Bryan was a student at local schools including Jackson Northwest High School where his motto was, “I don’t even, I get ahead,” but he would go on to mellow later in life. He was the editor of the journalism paper where he wrote a continuing column entitled “More BS” in true Bryan style. He was captain of the school wrestling team and earned two MHSAA state medals, and from there he walked on to the University of Michigan wrestling team where his wrestling partners included All Americans Joey Gilbert, John Fisher, Bryan Harper, and James Rawles. Bryan graduated from the University of Michigan with a bachelors degree in chemical engineering. He went on to a successful career in scheduling and planning at the Palisades Power Plant.

Not to be forgotten during his years in college was Bryan’s blossoming romance with the young girl of his dreams. Her name was Stephanie, and she was assigned to be roommates with Bryan’s friend from high school, Rupa. When Rupa initially saw her she thought of Bryan right away and immediately called him to tell him, “You should come meet my roommate, I think you’re really going to like her.” Rupa was right. They began dating and soon found themselves deeply in love. With a desire to establish a life together, Bryan and Stephanie were married on December 16, 1995, at St. Joseph Church in Kalamazoo.

The newlyweds enjoyed a honeymoon in Cancun where they received “special honeymooner prices.” This was only the beginning of their travels as they also went to Hawaii for their fifth year anniversary and several times after that, in addition to places such as New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona, Utah, Florida, Maine, New York, Massachusetts, Las Vegas, Niagara Falls, Hanceville Alabama to visit Sister Mary John Paul, Alaska, Costa Rica, Italy, Israel, Spain, France, Portugal, and Barbados.

It only seems fitting that Bryan’s 14 year battle with the brain tumor that he was diagnosed with in 1999 was anything but ordinary. Of course it comes as no surprise that even a brain tumor wouldn’t take him away from his passion - wrestling. That same year Bryan started wrestling freestyle again. In 2000 in the open division at Harper Creek, he was faced with an outstanding opponent who outweighed him by 25 pounds as the weights had been blocked. They went out on the mat, Bryan engaged him and then souffléd him, and the match was over.

With a desire to share his passion with others, Bryan went on to help coach at Coloma High School, where he helped train two national champions. He began coaching at Lawton in 2006, taking over a program that was struggling with only six athletes on the high school team. Bryan and Troy worked to rebuild and restore the honor and respect that comes with being a wrestler. His last season coaching, the team won the district trophy for the first time in thirteen years and had seven wrestlers advance to state with four taking medals.

In addition to his family and wrestling, Bryan loved God and being a part of the Catholic faith as a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church.

Although he was a fierce competitor on the mat, it was Bryan Sosinski’s match with his longtime brain tumor that truly inspired his family, friends, and all those he met within the wrestling circuit throughout his long coaching career. It has been said that he awed others with his cheerfulness that was nearly superhuman throughout the countless medical procedures, experimental treatments, and ominous test results. Never losing hope, Bryan always said, “Losing is not an option, I’m still waiting for my miracle.” His faith in God never wavered, and even as he embraced his final moments he refused to let go until he received the blessing of the Almighty God. Bryan’s time here will never be forgotten, and his spirit will live on through the lives of all who were blessed to know and love him.

Bryan Sosinski died on January 14, 2014. Bryan’s family includes his wife, Stephanie Sosinski; parents, Ben and Lillian Sosinski; 3 siblings: Deborah (Todd) Stewart, Chris Sosinski, and Amy (David) Areaux; father and mother-in-law, John and Nancy Conner; 3 brothers-in-law: John (Kim) Conner, David (Beth) Conner, and Chris (Lynnae) Conner; and 17 nieces and nephews, Shelby, Jaryd, Cody, Lauren, Victoria, Nicholas, Abigail, Alyssa, Alexa, Cassidy, Brody, Kristin, Holly, Ryan, Levi, Layla, and Seth; and a grandmother, Anna Sosinski. Learn more about Bryan and visit with his family and friends while sharing food and refreshments on Thursday from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. at the Life Story Funeral Home, Betzler & Thompson-Paw Paw, 60900 M-40; 657-3870. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Friday 10:30 a.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Paw Paw with the rosary being recited 30 minutes prior to mass at 10 a.m. Burial St. Mary’s Cemetery, Paw Paw. Following the burial, food and fellowship will be shared at the Vineyards, 28201 Red Arrow Highway; Paw Paw. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com, where you can archive a favorite memory or photo and sign his online guestbook. Memorial contributions may be made to Sosinski Wrestling Scholarship c/o Lawton Education Foundation.

Do not become upset when difficulty comes your way. Laugh in its face and know you are in the arms of God. ~ St. Francis de Sales