John Gregory Michaels

John Gregory Michaels (formerly Mikolajczyk) was born June 23, 1957, at Annapolis Hospital, Wayne, Michigan. John left us suddenly, but peacefully, on Easter Sunday April 1, 2018, at his home in Wixom, Michigan.

John is survived by four sons: Joseph, Nicholas, Andrew and Evan, and one granddaughter, Kayleigh. He is also survived by siblings Christine (Tom) Mikolajczyk, Marcia (Kerry) Reetz, Tim (Lynn) Mikolajczyk, Andrea (Dan) Jennings, and Joe (Rebecca) Michaels, in addition to six nieces and seven nephews. John was the third son, and fifth child, born to Joe and Anne Muniga Mikolajczyk.

He was christened in memory of one of Anne’s brothers (John's uncle) who died of tuberculosis in the 1930s. Anne’s parents, Emily and Vincent Muniga, were chosen as John’s godparents.

John grew up in Redford, Michigan. He attended St. Robert Bellarmine School from 1963 to 1971. Excellent in math and English, he was exceptional in art. On several occasions, his teachers would ask him to complete a project, to determine how and whether it could be done, before giving the assignment to the rest of the class. His was the model from which to work.

He attended daily mass at St. Robert’s and served as an altar boy.

After grade school, John attended Catholic Central High School in Detroit for one year, then transferred to Bishop Borgess High School in Redford, Michigan, from which he graduated in 1975. Again, his interest and achievement in art led his academic profile. He also developed an interest in theater and for years considered pursuing a career in acting.

John was a gifted comedian, with our own family members serving as both his muse and his fodder. Often, he would impersonate, impeccably, our extended family members — aunts, uncles, grandparents, cousins. Other times, he’d impersonate famous people impersonating those same family members. It was an amazing dimension of his creativity and his sense of humor. Apart from these, one of his often-requested classics was impersonating Bullwinkle the Moose swearing in Polish.

During his years in high school, John began working at G.M. Paris Bakery in Livonia, Michigan. His artistic gifts were manifested in the beautiful decorations of wedding and birthday cakes and other pastries. His style was marked by simplicity and beauty, foregoing the common “more is more” approach.

John left the Paris Bakery on several occasions — only to return. He worked for our Uncle Joe Luranc at Wayne Bolt and Nut, in Detroit; for Iverson’s Danish Bakery in Detroit; for Burkhardts Bakery in Livonia; and finally for the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Dearborn where he mastered his craft as pastry chef for the hotel and its fine restaurants.

In the early 1980s, John considered a transition from the culinary field, altogether. He enrolled in electronics school — but found the curriculum tedious and conflicting with his creative orientation. Though he graduated from this school, he never entered the electronics field — returning, instead, to his culinary calling once more.

In 1983, John became co-owner of Leon’s Pastries in Madison Heights, a catering business providing cakes, pastries, breads and rolls for clients throughout the region: Among those who loved his work were many yacht clubs, country clubs, hunt clubs, hotels, universities, and restaurants.

John’s interests were varied: History, music (Roy Orbison, Everly Brothers, The Beatles), books (he read the Warren Commission report at least a dozen times), art, movies (especially the Wizard of Oz and other classics), sports (Red Wings, Tigers, Lions)…

But, most of all, John loved his family and was driven by his faith. He loved his boys and his granddaughter as no father has before. He doted on them — and witnessed their growth to wonderful young men who will make him proud always.

We believe that his realization of heaven, that which he often discussed -- and reuniting with our mother, father and brother Tom -- is more glorious than he ever imagined.

He deserves that.

Visitation is Sunday, April 8, 2018, from 3 - 7 p.m. at Harry J. Will Funeral Home: 37000 Six Mile Rd, Livonia, MI 48152 (734) 591-3700.

Visitation Monday from 9:30 - 10 a.m. at St. Colette Church: 17600 Newburgh Rd, Livonia, MI 48152 (734) 464-4433. Funeral mass to follow at 10 a.m. at St. Colette.