Ray Jablonski

As his family and friends can attest, Raymond Jablonski was a straightforward and steadfast man. He was truly at peace at his home in Ottawa County whether he was puttering in his yard or just watching people pass by from the comfort of his front porch. Ray’s faith was his guiding light with his devotion to his family and church that will be his lasting legacy.

As the decade of the 1920s dawned, America was adjusting from being a nation at war to a nation at peace with the end of WWI. Prohibition became the law of the land, while jazz music, ballroom dancing, and American baseball entertained us. None of this affected rural Michigan. It was on March 2, 1920, that Leo Adam and Marie Andrea (Larsen) Jablonski, both age 45, announced the birth of a healthy baby boy they named Raymond L. He joined his older siblings, Leola, Marshall, and Glenn.

He was raised on their family farm just east of Big Rapids, Michigan. His father worked the farm with a team of draft horses and never adopted a modern tractor. Ray recognized the hard work of farm life. His mother was a devoted farmwife who baked bread every day, canned and preserved the products of the farm for year round use. The home was typically rural as it didn’t get indoor plumbing until the 1940s. While the Great Depression gripped the nation throughout the 1930’s, the farm provided for all their needs. He attended the nearby one-room Ely School until the eighth grade. Later, Ray walked the three miles to Big Rapids High School, after morning chores. In addition to keeping up with his studies, there he was the stage manager for the school play.€¨€¨

After high school graduation in 1938, Ray attended Michigan State College where he studied chemistry. Older sister, Leola, assisted with tuition. While at college, Ray enjoyed a little piece of home. He boxed up his dirty laundry and sent it back to his mother on the train so that she could send it back, freshly laundered.۬

With his Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, Ray took a job with Berry Brothers Paint and Varnish Company in Detroit. After a few years he moved on to Rinshed-Mason a manufacturer of automotive paints. He stayed with R-M under its various corporate owners until retirement.

In Detroit, he rented a room at the local YMCA across the street from St. Mark Methodist Church where he soon became an active member. €¨€¨Life was forever changed for Ray when he was invited to a church New Year’s Eve party where he met the woman with whom he would share the rest of his life. Her name was Pauline Williams and a dating relationship quickly ensued. After about one year, the couple was united in marriage on June 1, 1946, on his parents‘ 42nd wedding anniversary. Eleven months later, their first child, Paul, was born. Four years later they welcomed their only daughter, Marcia into their family. In 1954, they moved to the western Detroit suburb of Garden City, where the family moved into their first home. It was in Garden City that the last child Gary joined the family. As a father Ray was rather quiet and reserved, yet he was still an important part of his children’s lives. Ray usually spent his Saturday and Sunday nights watching television with his children. Some of his favorite shows were the Lawrence Welk, Red Skelton, and the Ed Sullivan Show. Of course their night wasn’t complete without a big bowl of popcorn! It was a special treat when Ray took his family out to eat, as it wasn’t something they were able to do all that often. The family attended Garden City Methodist Church where Ray actively participated in finance, membership committees and ushering.

It was in Garden City that Ray began his life long passion for his yard and garden. The children remember a yard full of flowers and bountiful produce from the garden.

In 1975, Ray’s company transferred him to Grand Rapids. They purchased a home on Dover Drive in Ottawa County. This home became the focus of his yard and gardening hobby. Remembering his childhood association with work horses, Ray purchased a Wheel Horse garden tractor to aid in his gardening activities. Ray‘s routine when he got home from work was to change his clothes and head out into the yard to work until dinner. After dinner he went out to relax on the porch to observe the neighborhood. During the winter Ray kept busy in the basement or outside with his Wheel Horse snow blower attachment clearing the many Michigan snows.

After he retired in 1985 he had even more time to spend working out in his yard and garden. He also volunteered at a food pantry and Habitat for Humanity. As the years went by Ray continued to enjoy sitting out on his porch observing the neighborhood.

If Ray wasn’t out in his yard, he could usually be found serving his church. When they first came to Grand Rapids they joined Wallin Congregational Church. This was a good fit for them because it had an older congregation and the church building reminded them of Garden City church. Through the years Ray served Wallin in the similar capacities as he had at Garden City Methodist. Ray and Pauline eventually transferred to Faith United Methodist Church.

Ray was a real meat and potatoes guy who liked his vegetables well cooked, and his apple pie with cheddar cheese and ice cream. Since Ray didn’t like to fly, at was a challenge when the extended family took an Alaskan cruise in 1994, which he enjoyed. He usually read the Grand Rapids Press from cover to cover each day, and liked Larry King interviews. He was soft spoken and was never interested in debating or arguing. €¨€¨When Ray and Pauline needed more care, they moved to Covenant Village of the Great Lakes in 2008 where he remained for the rest of their lives. Ray was deeply saddened when, Pauline, his wife of 63 years, died on June 30, 2010.

Raymond L Jablonski died on November 22, 2011. Ray is survived by his children, Paul M. (Barbara) Jablonski, Marcia D. Jablonski, and Gary W. Jablonski. Ray was preceded in death by his wife, Pauline, parents Leo and Marie Jablonski; and siblings Leola, Marshall, and Glenn Jablonski. A Celebration of Life service will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, November 28, 2011, at Faith United Methodist Church, 2600 7th St. NW, Grand Rapids, Michigan. Friends may visit with his family from 2-5 p.m. on Sunday at Heritage Life Story Funeral Home, 2120 Lake Michigan Drive NW, Grand Rapids, Michigan. Contributions in his memory to Habitat for Humanity РKent County will be appreciated and can be sent to Habitat for Humanity۬of Kent County۬۬425 Pleasant Street SW,۬Grand Rapids, MI 49503.

Ray will be remembered for his devotion to his family and church and passion for the gardening. He was content in the life he lived. Ray will be deeply missed and warmly remembered. ۬۬

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