In Memory
Edward Martin Borlik
September 26, 1941 - October 21, 2025
Edward Martin Borlik, 84, of Osceola, Ind., went home to be with Jesus, surrounded by family and family, while holding the hand of the love of his life, Betty, at 3:47 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025.
Visitation will be held from 4-6 pm, Wednesday, October 29, with the final services beginning at 7pm that night. All services will be held at the First Pentecostal Church of Edwardsburg, located at 27262 US 12, Edwardsburg , MI.
The internment will be held at 10 am on Thursday, October 30, at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens, Last Supper Section, located at 10776 McKinley Hwy, Osceola, IN.
A family reception will be held following the internment at Elkhart Life, 1135 Middlebury St, Elkhart, IN.
Lovingly known as Ed, Eddie, Butch, Pops, PawPaw, and DzaDza, Mr. Borlik was a “lifelong supervisor” whose dedication to his family and his faith were the foundation of his life and legacy.
Mr. Borlik was born on Sept. 26, 1941, to Edward A. Borlik and Jennie (Sowka) Borlik in South Bend, Ind. He was the protective older brother of two sisters who enjoyed visiting his grandparents' farm with his cousins. His childhood experiences gave him a lifelong love of camping, golfing, gardening, Elvis Presley, and a deep passion for family.
Mr. Borlik was part of the last class to graduate from Washington High School’s building on Sample Street in 1959. He immediately started working at RACO and became an “official supervisor” in 1973.
In 1978, he began a furniture company, Royal Glory, with his lifelong friend, the late Lyle Rorie, who taught him the craft. The company began in a church basement and grew to a storefront on County Line Road, where his children have fond memories of sitting in the windows as mannequins and climbing onto the roof to watch movies from the drive-in across the street.
When the company was bought out, he continued to work under the new management until early 1995, when he began performing shop maintenance for “Tony the Greek guy” and his brother. He then moved on to work for Portage Construction before retiring for the first time.
In 2006, only a few weeks after his first retirement, Mr. Borlik began working for Elkhart General Hospital. He retired a second time, in 2015, while continuing to serve at the hospital as a red coat volunteer until 2019.
Mr. Borlik dedicated the majority of his free time to volunteer work, often “volentelling” his friends, family, and especially his children, to join him. Beginning in the 1970s, Mr. Borlik most commonly volunteered to help others move, utilizing a box truck and putting his world-renowned packing skills to the test.
He served in church leadership roles as a Sunday school superintendent, head usher, and youth leader at Osceola United Pentecostal Church. Later in life, he continued serving as head usher at the First Pentecostal Church of Edwardsburg. His church involvement also included assisting with dramas, building props and sets, and occasionally performing as a growing flower or Salty the Songbook in Sunday School lessons.
Mr. Borlik was known for making people feel seen and welcomed, continually opening his home to those in need, as well as his pockets, cupboards, and heart. A member of “the clean plate club,” Mr. Borlik made sure everyone was always fed and that he could always find food anywhere he visited.
In addition to always having candy, most commonly Smarties, in his pockets for both children and adults, he was also known as the official food taste tester for any and every event, including weddings and funerals. He also spent hours “supervising” his family while working on weddings, funerals, church dinners, and other events, while also sneaking snacks or enlisting the help of his grandchildren to get “samples.”
In 1970, Mr. Borlik received his favorite supervisory role when adoption brought him his son, Bruce Edward. The only role that would ever compete in sentiment or importance was that of husband when he met and married Betty Schrader.
It was while working at RACO that Mr. Borlik met an employee and became instantly smitten. After the employee was laid off, he reached out to her, later helping her escape a dangerous situation. Years later, he found her again, and the two rekindled their friendship. After accepting her invitation to church, he fell in love with both the church and Betty. He asked her to marry him every Sunday morning for the next six months.
In June of 1976, the two finally tied the knot, without ever having a real date. Together, the Borliks created a beautiful, blended family.
Mr. Borlik supported his wife through cancer treatments, surgery, and her return to school, often making the same shake-and-bake chicken every night. “Always Betty’s hero,” he spent every moment ensuring that his wife and their children were protected and provided for by whatever means necessary.
A known “storyteller” and prankster, Mr. Borlik frequently started impromptu water fights, instigated shenanigans among children and adults, and frequently adapted the rules of Euchre, Connect Four, and Uno, always for his own benefit. He frequently received a taste of his own medicine from family members in return, by being safety pinned to a chair, receiving secret makeovers, or new and unexpected hairstyles.
A master of taking naps in any and every location, Mr. Borlik was a lifelong fan of bowling, grilling, trips to Sam’s Club for samples, and insisting that it was “time to hit the road” while never leaving his recliner.
Despite his many occupations and various roles, Mr. Borlik was most proud to be a husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He instilled a strong work ethic in each of his children and grandchildren, always providing tasks to keep everyone busy, asking questions, and neglecting to get hearing aids.
In 2004, he began selling firewood in his front yard, a hobby he continued until the middle of 2025, and then insisted that others continue to do so while he supervised.
Mr. Borlik had a way of making friends and building relationships with everyone, everywhere he went. He never failed to claim everyone as family and to show up anywhere someone might need help, ready to lend a hand and an opinion.
Survivors include his wife, Betty Borlik; children, Bruce (Jami) Borlik and Dawn (Pat) Marozsan; grandchildren Bethany (Caleb) Wagoner, Stephen Marozsan, Jonathan (Izzy Wakman) Marozsan, Holley (Kyle) Kilgore, and Mo (Dezi Roland) Mayo. His great-grandchildren: Ellison Wagoner, Renaldo Mayo, Freya Marozsan, and Levinnia Kilgore. A sister, Barbara (Father Bart) Ryan, and several nieces, nephews, and brothers and sisters-in-law and multiple cousins.
He also leaves a permanent mark on the hearts of dozens of friends and chosen family members who have walked with him through his many years of life and have been recipients of his humor, kindness, acts of charity, compassion, and practical jokes.
He was predeceased by his parents, and his in-laws, Ben and Dorothy Shrader; and a sister and brother-in-law, Geraldine Borlik Geyer and Paul Geyer Sr.
The family would like to thank the myriads of people who have poured into the lives of the Borlik clan, through phone calls, texts, visits, prayers and support in so many unforgettable ways. An additional heartfelt thank you to the Center for Hospice team who cared so lovingly for Ed, the First Pentecostal Church of Edwardsburg, MI who was his extended family and “happy place”, and Elkhart Life of Elkhart, IN for the unwavering support and prayers for Ed’s beloved family.
To share a memory or leave a message for the family, please visit: https://www.chapelhillmemorial.com/obituaries/
10/31/2025 DEC
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