Arthur Sytek

Hearing the name Art Sytek, what comes to mind for those who knew him best? “Hey, isn’t that the guy who used to run the Thunder Bay River Canoe Races?” Or, “Is he the man who helped clean debris out of the sink holes on Leer Road? Maybe that Wildflower Park on Bagley Street was named after him.” Or, “Is he the one that helped to build The James Farm Walleye Rearing Pond?” Well, the correct answer is “all of the above,” and to those who knew him he was so much more.

Around Alpena, Michigan you never knew where you might run into Art. Maybe it was wading through the cranberry bogs at Devil’s River or hiking through the woods searching for morel mushrooms. You could be sure to see him watching the parade at the Posen Potato Festival or standing in line for potato pancakes at the Knights of Columbus Breakfast. Or maybe you might spot him as he was trolling up and down the Thunder Bay River checking for erosion. It seems odd that a man who spent so much time around the water never learned to swim.

One of the most unusual places you might see Art was roaming around the cemetery. Researching family history, he spent countless hours looking for his ancestors. He was very proud of his Polish heritage and rarely missed listening to Sunday morning polkas on the radio. Art also liked to hunt deer, especially since it meant spending time at his cabin, fittingly called Sytek’s Polish Ponderosa.

But let’s back up this story a bit and look at Arthur Edmund’s roots. Just what was it that formed the man he grew up to be?

Art was born June 30, 1929 in Flint, Michigan, the first child of Edmund and Mary (Szala) Sytek. Among his four siblings, Lorry, John, Mary Lou and James, Art became known as a prankster. Especially as a young teen, he delighted in tormenting his sisters. One particular taunt was quite unforgettable. He removed the head from one of their dolls and stretched it over the top of the head light on his bicycle. He then turned on the light and the face glowed. Imagine the shrieks of his sisters and the laughter coming from Art. Another of his antics was less harsh—he liked to wear crazy, bright colored socks that were sure to attract the attention of all the girls around.

Full of energy and spirit, young Art was eager to enter the work force. His first job was delivering papers for the Flint Journal and working at The Soda Pop Shoppe. When he was only 19 years old, he started his career at Buick Motor Division in Flint. By the time he was in his 30s, he became owner and operator of Art Sytek Used Cars, which was right up his alley because he always had to have the latest, greatest, or the most unusual color of car that Buick had to offer. He always had one for sale when the new models came out. By the time he retired as a skilled tradesman at the age of 49, Art had been employed by General Motors–Buick for 30 years. His slogan was: “Thirty years is long enough. Stop the world, I want to get off!”

At age 21, Art had married Glenna (Pangborn) on December 2, 1950 at St. Brigid’s Catholic Church in Midland, Michigan. They raised six children—Alanna, Katherine, Sandra, Edmund, Sharon and Barbara—and built their first house together on Springfield Street in Burton. As the family expanded, their search for a new home led them to Fenton, where they lived until Art’s retirement in 1977. Then he and Glenna packed their belongings and headed north to Alpena with two of their children, Sharon and Barb, who were still in school. The family had owned a cabin in Alpena for many years, so they were no strangers to the area. Never one to sit still, Art picked up work at the Alpena Post Office as a substitute rural mail carrier for several years.

During the winter months, Art and Glenna traveled south to Florida, where they owned a home in Zephyrhills. Being the outgoing person that he was, Art met up with friends several times a week. He and “the guys” would head to the clubhouse at Spanish Trails Senior Village to play billiards and pea pool. Of course, being close to Lakeland and being a Tigers’ fan, Art indulged one of his favorite past times—watching the Detroit Tigers play baseball at their spring training camp. He also went casino hopping and to flea markets, where he was sure to add items to his collection of various items accumulated over the years: license plates, hubcaps, milk bottles, coins and his ultimate passion, baseball cards and memorabilia. On his travels into the countryside, he gathered choke cherries, elderberries, grapes or whatever he could harvest to make wine, a hobby he enjoyed for several years. Throughout their married life, Art and Glenna had several pets, but the ones that meant the most to Art were his poodles, Gidget and Susie. He took those pets with him everywhere he went, whether dogs were welcome or not!

Not surprisingly, Art was involved in many organizations in his lifetime: The Thunder Bay River Watershed Council, Michigan Karst Conservancy, Northeast Michigan Genealogical Society, Alpena Soil Conservation District, UAW Retirees Union and Fenton Coin Club. He was a member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Alpena and extremely active in the area as a member of the UAW Retirees–Union Local #599. He organized the Thunder Bay River Canoe races for several years, spearheaded efforts to clean out the Stevens Twin Sinkholes on Leer Road, and helped to construct the James Farm Walleye Rearing Pond. As a tribute to his tireless efforts, the wildflower park with canoe launch and handicapped fishing platform on Bagley Street is named in his honor.

Of all his activities, Art counted time with his grandchildren among his most treasured. He watched grandsons Chris and Jason play baseball and took several of the grandkids to Tigers’ games. He also liked to watch Chris race in the demolition derbies and bump and runs, not only admiring Chris’ interest in cars but also his ability to tear them apart and put them back together. Art was proud of Jason when he joined the Army as the first of all his kids and grandkids to do so.

Art left us peacefully on Saturday, February 4, 2012, surrounded by his loving family. We know he will be watching the Tigers’ games from the best seat in the house. “Go rest high on that mountain, Art. You deserve it.”

Arthur E. Sytek, age 82 of Alpena, Michigan is survived by Glenna, his wife of 61 years and five of their children. Katherine (Kenneth) Little of Fenton, Sandra (Bill) Allen, Edmund (Lisa) Sytek, Sharon (Dean) Wirgau, all of Alpena and Barbara Orban and fiancée Aaron Donajkowski of Lachine, 11 Grandchildren, 7 Great Grandchildren, and one Great Great Grandchild. He is also survived by a sister Lorry (Ralph) Hawks of Flint and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by a daughter Alanna Newcomb and three of his siblings John Sytek, Mary Lou Kania and James Sytek. He has been taken for cremation and a memorial service will be held at the McWilliams Funeral Home – Alpena. Family and friends will gather at the funeral home on Saturday February 11, 2012 from 1:00 to 4:00 PM. A prayer service will be conducted at 4:00 PM by Sister Mary Hughes. His remains will be interred at a later date. Memorials may be sent in care of Sharon Wirgau at 9452 Long Rapids Road, Alpena, MI, 49707. Contributions will be used to purchase memorial benches or for other improvements to The Arthur E. Sytek Roadside Park. Please visit Art’s personal web page at www.lifestorynet.com where you may share a memory or sign the on-line guest book.