Agnes Walendzik

With unending devotion to her Lord and Savior, Agnes Walendzik lived to serve others in ways both great and small. A lifelong resident of the community she loved, she was the sort of person who was kindhearted, genuine, and gracious in the way she treated those around her. Her family was always first and foremost in her life, and Agnes was filled with unspeakable joy to become a grandmother and great-grandmother later in life. She was vibrant and filled with a contagious zest for life that drew others near with ease. Agnes will be forever missed but never forgotten.

The Roaring Twenties were a vibrant time in America when innovation was taking us places we had never been and the majority of American families prospered. This all came to a screeching halt when the crash of the stock market sent our nation and and much of the world spiraling down into the depths of the Great Depression in October of 1929. This same year was a year to celebrate in the lives of Russell L and Lillian Frances (Blaszak) Clark as they announced the birth of the baby girl they named Agnes L. on June 9th in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She was one of six children and was joined in the family home alongside her three brothers and two sisters. Agnes was close to her siblings, and she remained as such throughout her entire life.

In many ways, Agnes experienced a typical upbringing. She went to St. James Catholic Elementary and later Catholic Central High School. Agnes loved cooking with her mother, and even doing the dishes, too. She could also be found going to barn dances and roller skating on a regular basis. Even as young girl, Agnes loved to laugh.

New and exciting changes were in store for Agnes when she met the man of her dreams. His name was Raymond Walendzik, and they met at the gas station where he worked pumping gas. They began dating and 12 months later, they were married. Together they were blessed with three children: Jim, Nancy, and Diane. Agnes treasured her family, and she was very involved in the lives of her children. There were fun-filled family vacations spent in Grand Haven for two weeks every summer during the Coast Guard Festival when Agnes had just as much fun as her kids, swimming and running the sand dunes. She also loved the outdoors, and they made priceless memories as a family on Wabasis Lake fishing and socializing with family and friends. Agnes was the one to teach her kids to fish, and she also enjoyed camping with her kids when they were young. Of course as in everything she did, she was organized with camping, too.

Throughout her life, Agnes was always busy doing something. She spent 25 years working for Paul Steketee and Sons, primarily in the bridal department. For 18 years Agnes was the director of Westside Senior Complex, putting her amazing organizations skills to good use planning their amazing holiday parties. She always loved traveling, especially in the Upper Peninsula. As someone who loved being out on the water, even the ferry ride over to Mackinac Island made Agnes smile. She was a lifelong member of St. James Catholic Church and was the one to initiate the first pictorial parish book there. Agnes loved gardening and took great pride in her landscaping and gigantic tomato plants. She was also an active crafter who enjoyed playing bingo, and when she went to Meijer, which she did often, it was never a quick trip.

There was never anything that was more important to Agnes than her family. She loved holidays and worked tirelessly to prepare for them, making sure that they were always such a special time. Agnes loved her grandchidlren, and she found a new zest for life when she started babysitting her great-grandchildren. She was the matriarch of her family and spoke to each of her children on a weekly basis. It was only in the past few months that Agnes began slowing down. Although she was 86, she had the most amazing zest for life and always said she had more living to do. She was always a firm believer in the power of prayer, which is the reason she gave for being able to return home one more time for the last few weeks of her life.

Described as fun-loving, kindhearted, and generous, Agnes Walendzik greatly enriched the lives of everyone she met. She loved nothing more than helping people as her selfless spirit covered everything she did. Agnes had the most amazing ability to recall just about anything at a moment’s notice, and she could always brighten the day of others. Life will never be the same without her here, but she leaves behind a priceless collection of memories that her loved ones will forever cherish.

Agnes L. Walendzik age 86, passed away peacefully into the arms of her Lord Jesus on October 12, 2015. She was preceded in death by her (father) Russell L. Clark; (mother) Lillian F. Clark; (brother) Gilbert Clark; (grandson) Anthony Walendzik. She will be lovingly remembered by her husband of 67 years, Raymond J. Walendzik; her children (son) Jim (Janet) Walendzik; (daughters) Nancy Finkbeiner (Ted Budner), Diane (Bob) Sidebotham; grandchildren Christy (Jay) Roossien, Amy (Chad) White, Adam (Kat) Walendzik, Tom (Jessica) Bartok, Rachel Finkbeiner; great grandchildren Will and Lily Roossien, Maddie and Vaughn White, Calvin "CJ" Walendzik, Chase and Brianna Bartok; brothers Russell Clark II, Raymond Clark; sisters Helen Rode, Mary (Larry) Dietz; a special niece, Kathy Jean Clark and great niece Nikki Vega. Agnes will also be missed by many other nieces, nephews and dear friends. Agnes was a lifelong member of St. James Catholic Church, 733 Bridge Street NW where the Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 AM on Monday, October 19, 2015 and her family will receive visitors for one hour prior to the service. A celebration of Agnes' life will be held on Sunday from 2-5 PM at Heritage Life Story Funeral Home, Alt & Shawmut Hills Chapel, 2120 Lake Michigan Drive NW and the Rosary will be prayed at 5 PM. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com to leave a memory or to sign her guestbook.