Dominic Paul Guzzardo, Highland, passed away Tuesday, February 1, 2022, at Ascension Providence Hospital in Novi, at 74 years of age. Left to cherish his memory are his loving wife, Rita; his daughters: Staci McFadden, and Holli (Ben) Cooper; his son, Dominick (Lindsay) Guzzardo; his six grandchildren: Caleb, Nikolas, Keenan, Rowan, Mya, and Vito; his sisters: Phyllis (William) Dobson, and Thomacina (Steve) Jungmann, and Margaret Guzzardo; and his brother, Peter Guzzardo; and many loving nieces and nephews.
Donnie, as his family lovingly called him, was an outstanding athlete growing up; playing football and baseball competitively, earning a football scholarship at Northwood University, where he had a reputation for being a fierce competitor. His love of sports continued into adulthood as he played racketball and was an avid runner, which of course didn’t help his knees later in life! Donnie was a true football fanatic as an adult and wouldn’t miss a Spartans, Wolverines, or Twin’s game. Although a teacher by trade, Donnie had a very successful career with General Motors, and was able to retire in 2003 at the early age of fifty-five. He did the toughest jobs at General Motors, and was the “go-to” guy on the plant floor.
However, above all else, Donnie was a devoted man of God; he was a parishioner at the Church of the Holy Spirit in Highland for many years, and was very active in the Knights of Columbus. While God came first, Donnie’s family was always a close second. He shared thirty-nine wonderful years with his loving wife, Rita, who he referred to as his rock. Donnie loved his kids, grandkids, brother, and sisters dearly, and was very much looking forward to becoming a great-grandpa in April! Just as Donnie was a go-to guy at General Motors, he was even more committed to his family. Any time anyone needed help, Donnie was the first to be there. He held fond memories of the road trips he took with Rita to visit their grandchildren in Colorado, or to Chicago to spend the weekend with his sister and nephews. Donnie was a wonderful man who will be greatly missed.
A funeral mass will take place on Saturday, February 5, 2022, at 11:00 am at the Church of the Holy Spirit, 3700 Harvey Lake Road, Highland, 48356. 10:00 am until the time of Mass at 11:00 am. Donnie’s family will receive friends at the Highland Chapel of the Elton Black & Son Funeral Home, 3295 E. Highland Road, Highland, 48356, on Friday, February 4, 2022, from 4:00 pm until 8:00 pm, with a Knights of Columbus service taking place at 6:00 pm, and again at church on Saturday from 10:00 am until the time of Mass at 11:00 am. Donnie will be interred at All Saints Cemetery on Monday, February 7, 2022.
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