George D. Gonczar's Obituary
George Gonczar entered into eternal life on March 22, 2026 at the age of 97. George is preceded in death by his beloved wife, Marie Justine (Mckiernan); his father and mother, George and Nellie (Olynick) Gonczar; his sister Amelia (Pease) and her husband, Ralph; and his brothers Edward, and sister-in-law Helen (Wawrzyniak) and Julian, and sister-in-law Betty (Miller); and nieces Gloria (Schlett) and her husband Frank and Linda (Litchkowski) and her husband John.
George is survived by his daughters – Marianne (Robert) Prybyla of Round Rock, Texas and Theresa (Mark) Moore of Shelby Township, Michigan; sons – George Gonczar, Jr. and James Gonczar of Tucson, Arizona, and Patrick Gonczar of Memphis, Michigan; grandchildren – Marie (Anthony) Lambrecht of Walton, New York; Robert Prybyla Jr. (Elena) of Vilnius, Lithuania; Natalie (Glenn) Hill of Coronado, California; Joseph (Marie) Prybyla of Pflugerville, Texas; Melanie Moore, Christina Moore, and Emily Moore of Shelby Township, Michigan; and Gabriel (Allison) Moore of Arlington, Texas; great-grandchildren – Jonas, Simon, Anna Maria, and Lucy Prybyla of Vilnius, Lithuania; Elizabeth and John Prybyla of Pflugerville, Texas; and Levon Lambrecht of Walton, New York; niece, Sharon (Ward-deceased) Wagner of Marietta, Georgia; and nephew, David (Michele) Gonczar of Romeo, Michigan, and numerous great nieces and nephews.
Born on January 2, 1929, George grew up in Anchorville, Michigan on the farm that his parents bought after emigrating from Ukraine (mother) and Russia (father) in 1910. George attended the one-room schoolhouse (K-8th) located at Meisner and Church roads, and graduated from Richmond High School. He attended University of Detroit, Macomb Community College and Control Data Institute receiving certification in Industrial Electronics. George courted Marie Justine McKiernan, who worked at the Richmond grain elevator, and they were married on February 27, 1954. George served in the United States Army at Ft. Lewis in Tacoma, Washington from May 1955 through May 1957; after which he settled his growing family in Roseville, Michigan, and 12 years later, moved to Marine City, Michigan.
During his lifetime, George learned and worked many different jobs to provide for his family. He first worked on his family’s dairy farm until he went to serve in the US Army. After his Service, he worked for Silver Cup Bread Company in the Detroit area, then as a salesman for Montgomery Ward Department Store and as an insurance agent for Home and Casualty Insurance. For many years he worked as a carpenter for Detroit Construction, building manufacturing plants in the Motor City. On the side, he worked for the Stuart McGuire Shoe Company, winning a trip to Switzerland in 1972 as a top salesman; and as an Amway Distributor, achieving Diamond-Level status. His last employment was at Harper Hospital in Detroit, as an Industrial Electronics Technician, from which he retired after 25 years. He also was active in his faith community – teaching Catechism, singing in the choir, and as a member of the Knights of Columbus #2667, of which George was a proud 50 years plus Lifetime Member.
George loved to travel, meet new people, and entertain friends. He and Marie traveled throughout the western US on the way to and from Ft. Lewis in Washington; and spent many winters in Laveen, Arizona with his sons, George and James. In 2015 he traveled to Poland, Lithuania, and Germany for his grandson, Robert’s, marriage; and in 2019, at 90 years of age, he traveled to Paris, France, where he visited Christina, his granddaughter, who was studying abroad. Thanks to the efforts of family, friends and valued caregivers, George was able to stay in the comfort of his home of 57 years until his passing.
George enjoyed music and comedy even having a brief role in the local stage play, “Mame.” He also loved to cook, creating his own recipes, and took great satisfaction in gifting family and friends with homemade pies. In his later years, although he was essentially blind, it never diminished his zest for life as he continued to regale his listeners with an amazing repertoire of jokes and stories even into his 97th year. His mind was keen to the end, as two days before he passed, he reminded his children of his memory meeting Thomas Edison in Port Huron with his mother. George was charismatic and charming, handing out his sweet “HUG ME” cards to everyone he met – to be redeemed immediately!
A Rosary and visitation will be held on April 7, 2026 from 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Young Colonial Chapel Funeral Home, 4061 St. Clair Hwy, East China Township, Michigan 48054. The Rosary will begin at 7:00 PM.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on April 8, 2026 at 11:00 AM at Our Lady on The River Holy Cross Catholic Parish, 610 S. Water Street, Marine City, Michigan 48039. Viewing prior to the Mass will be from 10:30 AM to 11:00 AM.
An Interment at St. Michael Cemetery, 67725 Main St., Richmond, MI 48062, will immediately follow the Mass.
The family suggests memorials be made to the Knights of Columbus, Richmond Council https://mloj.org/knights-of-columbus-1 or to the Marine City Council 856.
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