Marie June Fojtik, age 85, of Lady Lake, Fla., and Hopkins, died Saturday, April 20, after an extended journey with Alzheimer’s.
Marie was born Nov. 28, 1933, to Doris and Marcella (Steckmeyer) Gaynier in Monroe, MI. She married Rudolph James Fojtik on July 13, 1957, in Monroe. Marie and Rudy moved to Holland in 1962 and lived there with their family until they purchased a home in Lady Lake, Fla., in 1998. Rudy and Marie became “snow birds”, dividing their time between the villages of Lady Lake and their summer place at Sandy Pines.
Marie was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend. She was an active volunteer wherever she lived. She was a member of St. Francis de Sales Church of Holland, active in the Altar Rosary Society, the Lady Knights of Columbus, and Camp Fire Girls leader. Marie served as an eucharistic minister at St. Timothy and St. Mary’s Visitation Catholic churches. She also served with the Elks Lodge Auxiliary, American Legion Auxiliary and VFW Auxiliary.
For 16 years, she served as a school bus driver for Holland Public Schools. Marie enjoyed polka dancing with her beloved Rudy, playing cards, traveling, sewing, cooking, canning, and baking her famous Christmas cookies.
Marie is survived by her husband, Rudy Fojtik of Lady Lake and Hopkins; Joe (Madeleine) Fojtik of Vicksburg, Karen Fojtik of Kentwood, Pamela (Stephen) Strobel of Grand Rapids, Paulette (Perry) Szuminski of Menomonee Falls, Wisc.; and grandchildren, Matt (Nora) Fojtik, Andrew (Christine) Fojtik, Peter, Emma and Erika Fojtik, Ashley, Luke, Nicole, Teresa, Samuel, John Paul and Mary Strobel, Jessica and Nathan Szuminski; great grandchildren, Aiden, Liam, and Jacob Fojtik, Walter Fojtik; her sister Rosemary Weier and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, children: Diane Fojtik and Brian Fojtik, siblings: Raphael Gaynier, Adeline Geiman, and George Gaynier.
Visitation with the family will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday with family sharing memories at 7 p.m. and rosary beginning at 7:30 at Kubiak-Cook Funeral Home, 4330 18th St, Dorr.
Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m. Friday, April 26, at St. Mary’s Visitation, 2459 146th Ave SW, Byron Center. Fr. Christopher Derda will be presiding. Interment will be at St. Mary’s New Salem Cemetery.
Memorials may be made in Marie’s honor to St. Mary’s Visitation School, Byron Center, MI or St. Timothy’s Scholarship Fund, Lady Lake, Fla.
