In Memory
.png)
Michael Trzaskowski
March 21, 1952 ~ May 22, 2024 (age 72)
Michael "Mike" Trzaskowski Obituary Sarcastic, opinionated, and loud. If you knew Traz, you're likely smiling in agreement, and you probably "remember the time that he (fill in the blank)." Frequently offensive, unapologetic, and often funny, he lived his life his own way, even to the end. Born March 21, 1952 to Betty (nee Pinkowski) and Ed Trzaskowski, Mike was the younger brother to Larry, his only sibling; all of them preceded him in death.
Mike grew up in Crumstown and went to Holy Family School and Washington High School. He was an average student, and definitely the class clown. He enjoyed music, was a fan of Fabian, as a boy, and subsequently chose Saint Fabian for his Confirmation. He sang in the choir at WHS and was lead singer in a garage band. Mike was also a good athlete - a standout baseball player with one no-hitter to his name. He continued to play into adulthood though he was traded to the slowpitch softball division. Graduating from WHS in 1970, parenthood came quickly for Mike.
A summer romance with his girlfriend, Karen (nee Salvageot), resulted in the beginning of their family. Ryan (Clarice) was born the following June 1971, and Kristin (Brooke) followed in April 1975. Over the last 50 years, that family has grown to include their children’s spouses and four grandchildren with their significant others/spouses: Dominic (Alexa), Abi (Spencer), Chase (Jacky), and Jack (Kyndal). Although divorced from Karen for over 30 years, they remained amicable and continued to share in family holidays and activities. In addition to many good friends, others closest to Mike over the years included his brother’s wife, Sandi Lewinski, his previous significant other and her son, Cindy and Cory (deceased) Fay, and his caretaker, Elizabeth Otrombke and her family. Of course, his furry “roommates” - Maggie, Sadie, and Petey - also meant a lot to him.
Mike was a hard worker. A youthful indiscretion - doing a burnout in the mud - led to his job and over 40 years of part-time work as a meat cutter at Maciejewski's Locker Plant. He also cut meat at Park-n-Shop and Kroger. Another side job, and one that he enjoyed, was officiating softball, baseball, and basketball for the IHSAA. His career, however, was spent in law enforcement with the St. Joseph County Police Department. Over a 30-year span, Mike worked on road patrol, in dispatch, in the jail, and in the courthouse. His proudest accomplishment was becoming a sergeant and leading his fellow officers within the jail. It wasn’t all work for Mike; he liked to play too. Beyond softball, he also rode motorcycles, played golf, went fishing, watched sports...and took naps! In retirement, and especially as his mobility declined, he rode his golf cart around the yard, where he grew tomatoes, and around the neighborhood with the dogs, lounged at home, and watched Westerns, Big Bang Theory, and The Office.
Although Mike had some chronic health issues, his death was unexpected. He passed quickly and peacefully on Wednesday, May 22 at Memorial Hospital, in great part thanks to the ER, 9th Floor, and hospital staff to whom the family is grateful.
The family will receive visitors on Saturday, June 1 from 9:30 - 11:00 a.m. at Holy Cross Church, 1050 Wilber St., South Bend, where a Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers or gifts, those wishing to express sympathies are asked to make donations to Ronald McDonald House Charities of Michiana. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Michael "Mike" Trzaskowski, please visit our floral store.
05/29/2024 JFC
06/13/2024 EJS
|