Lois Darlene Prusakiewicz, age 91, of Gaylord, passed away on Sunday, January 30, 2022.
She was born to Lyle and Reva (Hood) Prebble, on May 9, 1930, in Elmira, Michigan.
Lois worked in her younger days in the potato warehouse and fields. She was an all-around farm girl, milking cows, and everything.
She married Anthony Prusakiewicz in 1950. They planted over 9,000 trees by hand in 1975 and built their own home in 1968.
Lois worked for Gaylord schools and catered many social events. She loved cooking, going to gatherings, and dancing the polka. Pinochle parties were a passion of hers. Lois loved her grandchildren and her entire family. Her motto was “waste not, want not!” She instilled in her family the love of God, and always promoted a strong work ethic. She was a lifelong member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles and St. Mary Cathedral.
She was preceded in death by her parents, and her husband.
Lois is survived by her children, Anthony Charles Jr. of Johannesburg, MI, Janie (Dan) Lucier of Canadian Lakes, MI, Karen Fletemier of Elmira, MI, Cheryl (Kevin) Millimaki of Marquette, MI, and Daniel of Gladstone, MI; grandchildren, Jessica (Charlie) Vickery, Andrea (Jeremy Woodward), Kenneth Millimaki; greatgrandchildren, Cy, Coen, Jadelyn, Shaelyn, Ben, Felicity, and Aurora; sisters, Dorothy Jensen of Vanderbilt, MI, and Judy Hile of Caro, MI.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, February 5, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. from St. Mary Cathedral.
Visitation will be held at St. Mary Cathedral on Saturday, February 5, 2022, from 10:00 a.m., until the time of services.
Memorial contributions may be made to The Care Team, Home Healthcare and Hospice of Gaylord, 604 W. Main St., Suite A, Gaylord, MI 49735, through the Nelson Funeral Home and Cremation Service.
Arrangements were entrusted to Nelson Funeral Home and Cremation Service.
19 comments on “Lois Prusakiewicz”
I’m sorry for your loss! Your family is in my thoughts and prayers! Your mom was one awesome lady! You could stop by her house any day and ask her if she wanted to go for a ride and she was always ready to go. Lois you will be missed dearly! Love you!
Thoughts, hugs & prayers are with your family. My sisters & I liked visiting with your mom.
Susie Coultes Kahl
Our thoughts and prayers are with all of the family, wish we could be there but on our way to Arizona. We’ll catch up when we get back, hugs to all the cousins. She will be missed!
Sending prayers to you all.
The Heavens will be blessed with this sweetheart. May the Angels lead her into Paradise. I so enjoyed the time I spent with her and her sweet sense of humor. Thank you for sharing her, she quickly found a place in my heart ❤.
God bless your family
Connie Nelson
We had so many fun years of playing pinochle. She loved to play cards. Prayers for the family.
Peace and light Lois, I know my mom and a few other of the girls Helen, Angie, Sophie will be meeting you at the gate. If I remember correctly, you have known each other from a very young age. (Prebble, Osga) were Elmira girls. She so enjoyed it when you girls got together for your lunch dates and visits.
To your family and all that loved Lois, my sincere condolences.
Loved talking with her, she was always fun to chat with.
Sending love and prayers to the family. So blessed she live a long and happy life. Barbara Fleming & family.
Sorry for your loss, Lois was always such a sweet lady. We would talk about how Cheryl and she always lit up talking about her and her family. Cheryl and I were born on the same day, June 22, 1962, Lois and my Mother were in the same hospital room when we were born. She will be missed
My Aunt Lois one special lady. She was witty, spunky enjoyed telling many stories and jokes.
I will miss those visits at the house. Many fond memories.
Condolences to the family.
Rest in Peace, Aunt Lois and godmother. She had a jolly spirit. She loved having a good time. There was lots of laughter and joking around. I was lucky to be one of the youngest cousins. I enjoyed many parties; weddings, showers, anniversaries, and birthdays.
I had lots of fun at the Prusakiewicz household. She allowed us to be kids and we had a blast. I frequently played at their house. We ice skated, sled, biked, played frisbee, tag, and cowboys and Indians and trick or treated together. In the summer, we took a few camping trips and swam at Lake Louise while stopping at a few garage sales along the way. So many good memories. She lived a great life, and family, know my thoughts and prayers are with you all. Hugs to everyone!!
There are so many memories of Aunt Lois and all the family celebrations over the years. My mom told one today of Aunt Lois at Aunt Ilah’s and Uncle Jack’s wedding. It seems she was always a character! She was the oldest of the four daughters, and there is no doubt that she was a hard worker and a tough lady that knew her way around the farm. Whether we were at the farm, the old house on M-32, the current house, or elsewhere, she was always a great hostess. I’ll forever miss her and all the good times we had when all the cousins were growing up. We’re thinking of you all during this difficult time.
I’m so very sorry for your loss. I met your mom and dad when I was a fairly new nurse. She gave me my first big dish of bread pudding. I was hooked. Little did I know at the time that I had made a life long friend. She always had time to stop and visit when I would see here in town. Always had a smile and kind words. She will be missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.
To the Prusakiewicz family, sorry we could not be at the funeral, between covid, chemo, surgery, and Alex it was just impossible, we hold all the family in our prayers, Tony we so enjoyed the last jam session at our house, please keep us in mind to-do it again. Our love to all. Ursula and Alex
Lois & her sisters were born and raised in a house on M-32 near Elmira, which was located 2 potato fields away from my home on Gurney Road where I was born & and grew up. Later as our families spread out to other parts of the state, we met many others, married new friends, started new families. We still stayed in contact with annual “family update Christmas cards & letters”, -Lois wrote from her heart, sharing the good & sad times. -Lois & her husband-“TONY” came to my amd my wife Alice’s wedding reception 55 yrs. ago at the VFW in Gaylord and stayed to the end enjoying dancing to the “POLKA KINGS” and gave us extra money gifts 3 times during the evening because they said they were having such a fun time with former neighbors, friends, and co-workers in the potato fields. -Wish I could be at her funeral mass today in Gaylord St. Mary’s, but distance and my own health, and age keep me from traveling much anymore. My love and hugs to all .-A friend from Battle Creek-CASIMER (Camy) DZWIK
I was born on Lois’ fifth birthday. My Aunt Esther helped deliver me and she asked Lois if she wanted her baby sister or a cake. She said “she would take the cake.” Since we normally celebrated our birthdays together, I would remind her that she should have taken the baby because the cake was long gone, but I was still around.
We played together, we worked in the potato fields together and we were good pals. We were lucky to have two other sisters, Ilah (deceased) and Judy.
We will always remember the good times and we will always miss both Lois and Tony.
Many condolences to this great family. Since I play(ed) an accordion I will always associate myself with her son Tony, but Tony has me beat.
Lois was such a respected person. Everyone loved her. I wish I had known her personally ‘better’ but living a distance away (Indianapolis, IN), visits were missed. My mother Stella admired her. I believe they spent many good times together playing BINGO at St.Mary’s. Through our nephew Mike Prusakiewicz & wife Jackie, we’ve enjoyed wonderful potatoes from son Tony’s potato farm, once my brother Bernard’s & wife’s Jeanette’s Prusakiewicz’ farm. Much history to Lois’ great family. May she rest in the Glory of God, with the peace she so harvested through her life. Tony, may we meet for a visit in near future. We have a few of your special potatoes (seed we are saving) for planting this spring.
God Bless you.
My prayers and sympathy to your family. As a pal of Karen’s growing up, I always enjoyed my visits with Mrs. Prusakiewicz. What a gem!