Sime "Sam" Ljubicic

Sime “Sam” Perosh Ljubicic passed away peacefully at Mother Teresa House Wednesday 8/19/2015 at the age of 79. Sime was born in Nin, Croatia on October 22, 1935. After living in an Italian refugee camp at the close of WWII, he immigrated to Venezuela. This is where he met and married the love of his life, Paula, on January 27, 1962 before coming to America in 1963. He was a hard worker and took great pride in becoming a U.S. Citizen and in bringing his entire immediate family from Croatia to the United States in the years following. He worked as a tool and die maker for over 30 years before retiring from General Motors. More than anything, Sime enjoyed spending time with his family and close friends along with playing and coaching soccer. His favorite events were large family gatherings where food was plentiful and children were everywhere. He loved to laugh, joke, tell stories and deliver his infamous “one-liners” any chance he could. Fiercely loyal to those he cared for, he would always offer support to a friend or family member in need.

Preceding him in death were his father and mother, Ivan and Ljuba Ljubicic and his brother Josip Ljubicic. He is survived by his loving wife, Paula Ljubicic, of 53 years and by his children, Hilde Hathaway (Tim Wilson), Sime (Joy) Ljubicic, and Joseph (Cheryl) Ljubicic, his sister Marija Matkovic and brother Branko Ljubicic as well as 10 grandchildren, 5 great-grandchildren, several family members by marriage, numerous nieces, nephews and many friends.

A funeral mass will be held at 11:00 AM on Monday, August 24th, 2015 at St. Martha Parish, 1100 W. Grand River Ave., Okemos, MI 48864, with Rev. Jonathan Wehrle officiating. The family will receive friends from 4-8 PM on Sunday, August 23rd at Gorsline Runciman Funeral Home, 1730 East Grand River Ave., East Lansing, MI 48823 with a rosary at 7PM and one hour prior to the service at St. Martha Parish. Burial will take place immediately following the mass at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery, 2520 W. Willow Street, Lansing, MI 48917. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations on behalf of Sime Ljubicic may be made to the Mother Teresa House, P.O. Box 13004, Lansing, MI 48901 or online at http://www.motherteresahouse.org/how-i-can-help/financial-support/. The family is being served by Gorsline Runciman Funeral Homes, East Lansing chapel. Condolences and memories may be shared with the family at www.greastlansing.com.