Frederick “Fred” J. Figiel

Frederick “Fred” James Figiel, age 60, passed away on Thursday, March 9, 2023, at his home surrounded by his loving family. He was a devoted husband, father, papa, son, brother, and friend. Fred was born on July 18, 1962, in Gaylord, Michigan to Felix and Barbara (Ciszewski) Figiel. He lived in Elmira, Michigan his entire life. He graduated from Gaylord High School in 1980 and completed college at Alpena Community College where he became a master mechanic. He then worked at East Jordan Iron Works for 37 years.

On August 30, 1986, he married Tami S. Baker. They raised two daughters, Ashley and Heidi. He was very proud to have raised two registered nurses. His family was most important to Fred, and he made that very much known in his last few days. He had a passion for the outdoors. He enjoyed mushroom picking, snowmobiling, two-tracking, camping, fishing, hunting, birdwatching, and playing horseshoes and cornhole. He also loved making sausage with his family in his pole barn, using his secret recipe. He was known to make the best sausage around. One of his favorite pastimes was riding in his truck with his wife and dog, Boo, enjoying the countryside and the back roads. He also loved spending time with his family and friends playing cards (euchre was a favorite). He adored teaching his grandson, Camden, how to mow grass and loved making silly faces with his granddaughter, Grace. He spent most of his summers camping with family at “Baker’s Acres”. You could always find him with a Miller High Life in hand, enjoying the campfire.  He was known to put on the best fireworks display over the 4^th of July weekend. He will be remembered for his sense of humor, competitiveness, intelligence, and his kind and compassionate spirit.

He is survived by his wife, Tami; his daughters, Ashley (Andy) Reynolds of Boyne Falls, Michigan, and Heidi (Ty) Reynolds of Elmira, Michigan; his parents, Felix and Barbara Figiel of Elmira, Michigan; his brothers, Jerry (Denise) Figiel of Quaker City, Ohio, and Dennis (Larry) Figiel of East Jordan, Michigan; sisters-in-law, Mary Lou Baker of Romeo, Michigan, Debbie (Terry) Coon of Alba, Michigan, Pamela Anthony of Elmira, Michigan, and brother-in-law, Roger Sevenski of Elmira, Michigan; grandchildren, Camden and Grace Reynolds; and many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends.

Fred was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, Joseph, and Mary Ciszewski; paternal grandparents, Frank and Verna Figiel; his father-in-law, Smokey Baker; mother-in-law, Velva Baker; sister-in-law, Lori Sevenski; brother-in-law, Steve Anthony; uncles, Carl, Arthur, and Donald Ciszewski; and a few cousins.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, March 16, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. from the Gaylord Evangelical Free Church, 1649 M-32, Gaylord, Michigan.

Visitation will be held at the Nelson Funeral Home on Wednesday, March 15, 2023, from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Visitation will continue on Thursday, March 16, 2023, at the Gaylord Evangelical Free Church, from 10:00 a.m. until the time of services at 11:00 a.m.

Cards of condolence may be sent to Tami Figiel, through the Nelson Funeral Home, PO Box 1548, Gaylord, MI 49734.