Anthony C. “Tony” Zimbicki, 95, of Gaylord, passed away Sunday, December 12, 2021.
He was born June 23, 1926, to Joseph and Antoinette (Muzyl) Zimbicki in Gaylord, Michigan.
Tony married Mary Jasion July 24, 1948, and were happily married for 71 years.
He enjoyed hunting, fishing, trapping, and gardening. For many years he was a carpenter by trade and accomplished building his own home in 1948. Tony loved to spend time in his Upper Peninsula camp. He was a long-time member of the Knights of Columbus and making the annual Polish sausage at the hall. He was a very faithful Catholic. Most of all he enjoyed time spent with his family. Cards, cribbage, and pinochle were some of the fun things he liked to do with friends and family. At one point he even had his own Christmas tree farm.
Tony was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Mary; daughter Mary Ann Goddard; son, Chuck; grandsons, Jason and Mark Goddard, and all of his siblings.
He is survived by his children, Patricia (Phil) Kile of Elkhart, IN, Michael (Kathy) Zimbicki of Gaylord, MI, Karen Mowrer of Elkhart, IN; eight grandchildren, and 12 great-grandchildren.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Saturday, December 18, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. from St. Mary Cathedral, 606 N. Ohio Ave., Gaylord, MI 49735.
Visitation will be held at the Nelson Funeral Home on Friday, December 17, 2021, from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. A Rosary will be offered by the Knights of Columbus at 4:00 p.m. Visitation will continue on Saturday, December 18, 2021, at St. Mary Cathedral, from 9:00 a.m. until the time of service.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Mary Cathedral or St. Mary Schools, 606 N. Ohio Ave., Gaylord, MI 49735.
Arrangements were entrusted to Nelson Funeral Home and Cremation Service, PO Box 1548, Gaylord, MI 49734.
10 comments on “Anthony “Tony” Zimbicki”
My father got another buddy back! I can hear them now!
My son Nicholas and I, to this day, still talk of the many fishing trips to Canada and listening to Tony’s stories!
We love this truly gentle man!
God be with your family at this time.
Geri and Nicholas Koscielniak
Good Bye old neighbor and lifetime friend!
Such a sweet man and family!!!!!
I remember Tony as a great and wonderful guy who could tell some amazing stories. I was a young man in my teens when hunting with Tony, Al and Ernie Szymanski (my uncles) and Spike Amborski along with my dad Tag Smith. I believe Tony is now with those hunting and fishing buddies, may he rest in peace.
We loved the “Yooper” times we had with Tony and Mary at camp. Tony’s animated stories will live in our minds and hearts forever. He was quite a character and there isn’t a nicer person around. We will miss him greatly! Godd bless your family during this great loss.
Such a dear sweet soul, family friends forever – may his soul rest in peace, Dennis & Sharon Roberts
So sorry for your loss. Tony was a wonderful man with such a gentle soul. Loved talking to him and Mary after church. He will be missed by many. May he Rest In Peace in the arms of our Lord. God bless all the family.
Craig and Berni Seidell
Tony was one of a very few people that I would say truly had joy in his heart, Anytime you would greet Tony he would have a hardy handshake and a smile for you. Tony was really in his element when he was fishing. This was no more evident then when he would go on his annual spring trip with Mr. Koenigsknecht to Walkimi Lake in Canada. I have been fortunate enough to be able to join Tony on several of these trips. Making a trip to a remote lake in the Canadian wilderness is something that will create lifelong memories. Making a trip to a remote Canadian lake with Tony has created extra special lifetime memories that I will never forget. One of my favorites is Tony’s Polka tape. He had this cassette tape that he must of recorded directly from the Saturday morning Alpena radio station Polka Party radio program. It had to have been because here we are in the middle of nowhere Canada listening to “Who Stole the Kiszka” and the next thing to play is Alpena Moters wanting to sell you a car. You would hear Tony’s polka playing halfway across the lake, I think the volume knob was broke. It got a interesting when the batteries began to lose power. The player would randomly start to speed up a slow down. Tony didn’t seem to mind much. What Tony did seem to have a little trouble with in Canada was their one line per fisherman law. Even still fishing you could only have one line in the water at a time, Now I’m not saying Tony would ever do anything illegal, especially fishing with an ex-state trooper. But I can recall on more than one occasion when fishing was difficult there seemed to be more than one rod “resting” on the side of the boat at the same time. Funny the things you remember. Everytime when Mr. K and Tony’s boat would come into camp they’d shut the moter down it would backfire. I will never forget that sound.
Thanks for the memories Tony.
So sorry for your loss, Patricia. Very tough to lose your dad and your sister-in-law in the same month. I didn’t know you, but I knew Phil and Mary from the old Zion Church in Elkhart many years ago.
Always enjoyed seeing Tony and Mary in church. Tony had a hearty laugh and infectious smile. My Dad and Tony hunted a lot of “docks” back in the day. As a little kid, Tony would stop by and say to my Dad, ” It’s good weather for “docks”, let’s go!” I loved listening to him. In their early years at Polosky school, now where the K of C Hall is, my Dad said, Tony always protected me, wouldn’t let anybody beat me up. My Dad always loved Tony for that.