Passed away on June 9, 2021 at his home in Kennesaw, Georgia due to a massive heart attack. Greg was from Southgate, Michigan, born to Thomas and Claudia Krzyzanowski on September 25, 1969. Greg was a quiet kid growing up, but grew into his big heart and big personality through his high school years. He went through ten different hairstyles, attended quite a few parties and created amazing friendships through his years in the Southgate Anderson Band Program. After high school, he worked a few different jobs, ultimately leading him to go to Life Support Training Institute. While teaching CPR, he met a single mom of two and while he failed her on the exam, he compensated by taking her out on a date. Greg went from driving a purple Ford Ranger to something that could tote around two toddlers. On October 19, 1996, Greg and Renee got married in Riverview, Michigan surrounded by their family and friends. After the wedding, they moved to Lincoln Park and made a tiny brick house “home”. While he loved his bonus kids, Nathan and Elizabeth, he and Renee were ready to have children of their own. Greg was so happy when Renee announced they would be having a little girl. He loved babies and was thrilled to have one of his own. Just a year after Kimmy was born, they were surprised with the news that Renee was pregnant with a boy! In August of 2000, Gregory was born, completing their family of 2 boys and 2 girls. Greg was a wealth of useless history knowledge, but it paid off when playing trivial pursuit and he was the only one that could fill every piece of the pie. He was usually dozing off to the history channel while reading a Tom Clancy book. In the evenings, he liked to eat cereal out of a mixing bowl while laughing hysterically to South Park. He used his Cartman impersonations to keep his family laughing all the time.
Greg, like all of us, had many struggles through the years. The strong, prideful man, that was known by all of his friends and family, changed a bit. Greg became Mr. Mom while the kids were in school. A term that 18 year old Greg would have laughed at, but one that he embraced at this stage in life. Greg loved to wake up at 4:30 in the morning, read the newspaper and get the kids ready for school. Not only was he a taxi to his own kids, but several others. Greg was not the dad in movies that threw around a ball or taught them how to change the oil, but he taught them how to be good people. “Yes sir” and “yes ma'am” were mandatory, you always hold open doors and help someone struggling, respect your elders in every situation, and there is a time and place for joking and a time for being professional. Greg’s traditional values kept him on the far right when it came to politics, creating limitless banter with his kids whom all swayed left, despite his efforts. He loved to debate politics and ideals, but once he was frustrated, it was over; he would throw his hands in the air and give up, mumbling under his breath. During his years as Mr. Mom, he gained a love for cooking. He was convinced that any left out food or if you didn’t cook the food to jerky level, it would give you salmonella. Despite how dry his chicken or steak might be, he made amazing ribs, great polish food and anything “fryable”. A pan full of butter or his deep-fryer were a necessary thing at every meal. When cooking, there was never food for just the family, but for the neighborhood. Greg had a huge fear of running out of food and even on the day he passed, he made sure there were leftovers for the entire week.
Greg liked to listen to 80’s rock music, watch Law & Order, post inappropriate memes on Facebook, go on daily adventures with his father-in law, smoke Marlboros, chat with old friends, and take naps. He loved kielbasa, pierogis and anything Busia made. Nobody could EVER cook like his mother. A mama’s boy through and through, he also loved his mother-in-law. He was her buddy for years and as she got older and neared the end of her life, Greg took great care of her. Although the family considered Michigan “home”, Greg was extremely happy when they moved to Georgia. He built great friendships with neighbors and friends from the railroad and spent every day sitting outside enjoying the weather. Greg’s bright blue eyes, his loud laugh, and his uncanny ability to make everyone laugh will be missed by all who had the privilege of meeting him.
Greg’s presence will be truly missed by his wife of almost 25 years, Renee; his children Nathan McMahan, Elizabeth (Jaymin Bagley) McMahan; Kimberly Krzyzanowski and Gregory Krzyzanowski; his mother, Claudia Krzyzanowski; his father-in-law, Foy Pate; 2 brothers; and several nieces, nephews, cousins, in-laws, and friends. He was preceded in death by his father, Thomas and his mother-in-law, Gertrude Pate.
A Memorial Service for Greg will be held at Parkside Gardens, located at the Southgate Civic Center, on Friday, June 25, 2021 at 6pm.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18