Stephen Moskalik

There is no greater man than one who lives by his convictions and cherishes those entrusted to his care, and Stephen Moskalik was such a man. The foundation of his family, Stephen worked hard to provide for those he loved, and as their foundation, he lead by example with integrity and unconditional love. Stephen found in his family no greater joy. Always a kind, generous man, he greeted everyone he met with his friendly, genuine smile. It was simply a joy to know and love Stephen as he filled the lives around him with his caring spirit, laughter and optimism. For those who knew him best, he will be fondly remembered.

The end of World War II brought much prosperity to America well into the late 1940s. Moviegoers continued to enjoy flicks starring Rita Hayworth and Ingrid Bergman, and gangly crooner Frank Sinatra introduced his hit song, “New York, New York”. The new Buick Roadmaster was the shape of things to come for the auto industry, and the post-war baby boom was in full swing. Yet in the Michigan city of Kalamazoo, Alvin and Viola Moskalik were experiencing a baby boom of their own and on April 5, 1949 they welcomed the birth of their son, Stephen Leon Moskalik into their arms.

The second of two boys in his family, young Stephen joined his older brother, Edward, and later they welcomed two younger sisters, Suzanne and Tina into their thriving household. To support their family, Stephen’s father worked at one of the local factories, and later retired as an electrician. Although his mother remained at home and raised her children, she later went on to work as a registered nurse.

Stephen was a boy typical of his generation. He enjoyed childhood adventures with neighborhood friends, and he found his share of shenanigans, too! He attended the local schools, and on occasion, his mother allowed the kids to skip school for a day of fun-filled experiences without telling their father. However, Stephen learned much from his father. From his earliest years, Stephen saw his father as a very hard worker. He sacrificed much for his family, and often saved extra money to take their family on memorable, summer vacations. They ventured to destinations such as Washington, D.C., Pennsylvania, Las Vegas, Nevada, Pikes Peak in Colorado, and the Grand Canyon. They did a lot of camping together, stayed in motels, and roughed it in a little special cabin up north in Mackinac City.

With his schooling behind him, Stephen tried enlisting into military, but disappointingly he was denied due to being deaf in his right ear. With perseverance, Stephen refused to accept “no” the first time, and he even tried enlisting at several other enlistment centers to no avail. Even so, Stephen found his first real job working for Kalamazoo Manufacturing. He then began working for Prab Conveyors where he started out as a welder, and later made his way up the ladder as a purchasing agent before becoming the plant manager.

Throughout this time there was a special girl who made quite a difference in Stephen’s life. Terry Miller was a pretty young woman who captured Stephen’s heart in a mighty way. They dated for a while, and after falling deeply in love, they shared vows of marriage. To their union, Stephen and Terry shared the loved of two children in their lives with the births of their sons, Stephen Jr. and Andrew. Stephen dearly loved his family and went above and beyond to provide a good life for them. He set a fine example for his sons to live by, and in Stephen they found a loving father who offered them support, encouragement, and unconditional love.

Eventually, Stephen went on to begin his own company, TDA Buddy. He owned and operated the company, and although he worked hard and put in long hours, he liked being his own boss. He sold the business in 2008 when he was ready to begin his new adventure in life – retirement.

Stephen and Terry began spending the cold months of winter in Florida after retiring. Once they sold their home in Michigan, they moved to Winter Haven, Florida year-round, making it their permanent home. It was especially nice for Stephen as he could golf every day of the year. While living in Florida Stephen and Terry made lasting friendships with many. They enjoyed getting together with their couple friends for outings, a little travel, and dinner, and Stephen made numerous golfing buddies he thoroughly enjoyed spending time with.

Always willing to lend a helping hand, Stephen was someone with whom others could depend. Quite the handyman, he even built homes for which he was proud. In addition to his love for the game of golf later in life, Stephen enjoyed bowling in his earlier years, but golfing was his favorite and he continued to play until his health got the best of him. He also had a penchant for classic cars and he even came to own a few of his own through the years.

With Stephen’s carefree and fun-loving nature, many shared his company with pure delight. Quite a personable man, he was a stranger to none, and he could have a conversation with anyone. His smile could light up a room, and bringing laughter to the faces of others simply made his day. There were many things to love about Stephen. He was an independent man, and his unending smile and good-hearted demeanor was welcomed by all. Deeply missed, Stephen will be remembered for his dedication to his family, devotion to his friends, and the many ways he touched the lives of others with ways of his own.

Stephen L. Moskalik, age 66, died on Wednesday, March 16, 2016 in Auburndale, FL. He is survived by his wife, Terry; and sons: Stephen and Andrew. Family and friends will visit while sharing food and refreshments on Monday, March 28, 2016 from 10:00 AM until 12 Noon at the Life Story Funeral Homes, Betzler–Kalamazoo; 6080 Stadium Drive (269-375-2900). Private entombment services will take place. Please visit Stephen’s personal webpage at www.lifestorynet.com where you can share a favorite memory or photo of him and sign his online guestbook.