Huron County MI Archives Obituaries.....Pionk, Roman V November 3, 2009
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Jerry West jerrycwest@gmail December 5, 2009, 1:28 am

Huron Daily Tribune
Roman Vincent Pionk, 80, lifelong resident of Paris Township died Nov. 3, 2009 
at his home, lovingly surrounded by his wife Audrey and children.

Roman was born May 10, 1929 on the family farm to Frank and Mary (Kan’tok) 
Pionk. 

He married Marie C. Lemanski on Oct. 14, 1950 at St. Mary Catholic Church in 
Parisville. They celebrated 38 years of marriage before she preceded him in 
death on Oct. 13, 1988. He married Audrey (Osentoski) Rutkowski on May 28, 
1993 at Sacred Heart Church in Bad Axe.

Roman’s early education was completed at St. Mary Elementary School in 
Parisville. Roman was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, participating as 
a member of the St. Mary Men’s Club, Eucharistic Minister, and Usher. Roman 
was a member of Ruth Knights of Columbus Council No. 3823. He was also a 
member of the Ubly Fox Hunter’s Club. Roman passionately farmed the family 
centennial farm from his childhood through retirement in April of 1992. 

He was employed as a welder by the Ford Motor Company, at the Wixom plant, for 
more than 20 years from 1956 to 1976. Roman was a gifted musician, playing 
piano and accordion, entertaining at weddings, festivals, and community 
centers individually and with his band, The Polka Chips. 

He wrote several pieces of music, including, The Farm Girl Waltz, and the Na 
Zdrowie Polka. Roman was also an accomplished craftsman and mechanic. Special 
projects included birdhouses and unique wooden toys for the delight of his 
grandchildren. He was an exceptional dancer and loved to travel with Audrey. 
Memorable places they shared together were Alaska, Arizona, California, 
Florida, Las Vegas, Canada, and Italy. He also enjoyed a good game of euchre, 
trips to the casino and was a lifelong Detroit Tigers and Ubly Bearcats fan.

Roman was a gentle man devoted to the Catholic faith. He was a man of few 
words, but those he spoke were well thought and full of wit. He worked 
incredibly hard his entire life. His loving way of life connected him 
affectionately to all he met. He transferred this caring spirit to all of us. 
His last few months were courageous and self sacrificing. He loved his wife, 
family, his home, and farm, where he was able to spend his final day of life 
in this world.

Roman is survived by his wife, Audrey of Paris Township; 12 children, Sue 
Anderson and her husband, Dave, of Fort Gratiot, Christine Pionk of Ann Arbor, 
Joyce Scott and husband, Clarke, of Altavista, Va., Debbie Pionk of Aviano, 
Italy, Dr. Mary Jane Pionk and husband, Bill Kuncz, of La Jolla, Calif., Larry 
Pionk and wife Mary Kay (Heleski) of Abingdon, Va., Commodore Daniel Pionk, 
U.S. Navy of Hassan, Minn., Yvonne O’Connor and husband, Terry, of Minden 
City, Nancy Pionk of Portland, Ore., Shelly Messing and husband, Randy, of 
Champion, Darren Pionk and wife, Jennifer, of Ortonville, Renee Pionk of 
Lansing; two step-children, Paul Rutkowski of South Lyon, Diane Marie Kanyo 
and John of Farmington Hills; 27 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren; 
one brother, Cass Pionk and wife, Dorothy (Sobkowski) of Apache Junction, Ariz.

He was preceded in death by one daughter, Diane Kay Pionk; five sisters, Laura 
Peruski, Agnes Grifka, Julia Gornowicz, Eleanor Partaka, and Marie Pionk; 
seven brothers, Leo, Peter, Julius, Frank, Adam, Alexander, and Chester.

Funeral Mass will be at 11 a.m. Monday, Nov. 9, 2009 at St. Mary Catholic 
Church in Parisville. The Rev. Peter Nwokoye, pastor, will officiate. Burial 
will be in the church cemetery.

Visitation will be from 7 to 9 p.m. on Friday, from 1 to 9 p.m. Saturday, from 
1 to 9 p.m. Sunday at the Zinger-Smigielski Funeral Home in Ubly, and from 10 
to 11 a.m. Monday at the church only.

There will be a joint rosary at 8 p.m. Friday by the St. Mary Men’s Club and 
the Ruth Knights of Columbus, a rosary at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday by the Daughters 
of Isabella and a parish vigil service at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday. All services 
will be at the funeral home.

Memorials are requested to the American Cancer Society or the Family 
Discretionary Fund.

 


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