Michael Joseph Mondak, Jr.

Michael Joseph Mondak, Jr., age 90 of Warren, passed away in the comforts of his home on Saturday, December 12, 2020, surrounded by his loving family. He was born February 16, 1930 in Dickson City, Pennsylvania, son of the late Michael Joseph, Sr. and the late Stella (nee: Siderowicz) Mondak.

Michael was a hard working man who devoted 35 years to a job that he found extremely rewarding and fruitful. Employed as a Steel Analyst for the Jones & Laughlin Steel Company, Michael’s work demanded the utmost in detailed precision,…and they certainly found the right man for the job. When he wasn’t on the job, Michael directed that same drive and hard work ethics into his garden at home. He loved getting his hands “earthy dirty” by pouring the finer qualities of his tender-loving-care into his garden which was rife with vegetables. Hailing from an era where canning vegetables was commonplace for many households, Michael carried on the practice with the hearty growth from his own backyard. But Michael’s garden and yard were also a testament to his skills with flowers, shrubbery, and the various landscaping highlights that he maintained as well. Michael’s garden was the envy of many in the neighborhood.

Time away from work was also enjoyed each time Michael packed up the car and drove the family to their cottage in Oxford, Michigan. With many wonderful memories of the summers and holidays they shared together away from the hustle & bustle, hangin’ out by the beach, and just chillin’,…Michael worked hard to earn those little respites to regroup, refresh, and create some lifelong memories to reflect upon. As time marched on and his kids grew older, his daughter kind of picked up where he left off when she purchased a cottage of her own, which ultimately became the family cottage 2.0. A bit further north of Oxford, off Hwy 24 in Lapeer, lies a beautiful and serene body of water called Barnes Lake, the same Barnes Lake where you will find Patricia’s little home away from home,…Michael’s 2nd favorite place to be. Though the years forged many happy memories of family times and hobbies shared, fishing was certainly not in Michael’s wheelhouse of things in which he shined. No matter how hard he tried, the bites just never came,…except for one tiny moment of glory when he snagged a fish he could have placed in his pocket. He would take the grandkids fishing, and they would no sooner cast out their line that the bites would come fast & furious.

Michael was also a huge fan of traveling and had an affinity for seeing as much of the beautiful scenery our country has to offer, and sharing that with his family. In the earlier years when the kids were young, he would load up the troops and hit the road, heading for one of the many destinations he had chosen to build upon the travel portfolio of the sights they had seen from state-to-state, all across America. Not content to do the same thing over and over, Michael knew that traveling the country was a great way to take in its splendor and history, and to provide his children with moments they would never forget. Later in life, in his post-retirement days, Michael’s traveling delights became something he enjoyed more so with his bride, Arlene. From their trips to Florida, Hawaii and Alaska, the two lovebirds added 9 sea cruises to their list of exotic ventures shared together. It was truly an exciting life.

Mind you,…with all of this travel, trips to the cottages, and the many other picture-worthy places Michael encountered, it only made sense that he would seek to record these moments for posterity,…so Michael embarked on a bit of amateur photography, from early on, and you would almost never see him without his camera. From the mediocre to the magnificent, the laid-back to the lavish, Michael went above & beyond to capture the moments that would be remembered,…both in the hearts & minds, as well as in pictures.

Michael was a grown man, but truly possessed the heart of a child when it came to a parade. No matter the cause or occasion, he simply loved a parade and all that went into orchestrating such events. He must have gone bonkers on Thanksgiving Day and New Years Day, for sure. From the high-flying balloons in Detroit and New York,…to the vast array of roses that adorned the floats in Pasadena, California, the kid in Michael was always entertained by parades. And with the same sort of passion and enjoyment came his appreciation for music, more specifically through the genre of the Big Band Era. The BIG orchestra’s, the BIG bandleader’s, the BIG sounds that got us through the war and beyond (who can forget the Andrews Sister’s?),…most music was enjoyable for Michael, but none made the immense impact of the Big Bands. And nobody will forget the “Sweet Tooth” that embodied this boy! There wasn’t just one, favorite morsel that piqued his interest,…it was ALL in the running. Candies, cakes, cookies,…and all of it being consumed by a diabetic, mind you. But for some strange reason, all of his numbers kept coming back in the normal range,…so pass those Twinkies down, please!

There are so many wonderful aspects about Michael’s life that will keep him warmly in people’s hearts and minds, but perhaps none so precious and revering as his knack in storytelling. This was, indeed, Michael’s milieu. When he began venturing down that path, he had you at the first sentence. You were like a starving fish looking at that delicious worm,…and Michael’s voice was the bait that reeled you in. But you definitely did not need any coaxing. If you were on the verge of being vocally enrapt by one of Michael’s offerings, you were truly blessed. Alistair Cooke,…step aside.

A loving & cherished husband, an awesome & supportive father, and a doting & generous grandfather, Michael embodied both the greatness and humility that defines the ideal patriarch. Immensely loved by his wife, children and grandchildren, Michael was truly a storied mentor, provider and protector, and cared for his family with the utmost in devotion and dedication. With the heart of a servant, Michael touched a multitude of lives in his journey this side of Heaven. May he, now, enjoy the blessings on the other side as he rests safely in the arms of God. He will be missed beyond expression and loved beyond measure.       

Beloved husband of Arlene. Dearest father of Mark (Suzanne) Mondak, Patricia Mondak, and the late Michael Mondak. Loving grandfather of Adam (Joyce), Jordan, Jacob, Logan, and Holden. Brother of Theresa (Terry) Wright, and the late Irene Gross.

Visitation for Michael will be held Tuesday, December 15th from 4-8 pm, with a 7pm Funeral Service, at the D.S. Temrowski & Sons Funeral Home, 30009 Hoover Road at Common (12 ½ Mile Rd) in Warren.

Memorial donations are welcomed to help support AIDS research, please address your envelope to:  Philanthropy, amfAR, the Foundation for AIDS Research, 120 Wall St., 13th Floor, New York, NY 10005-3902,…or on-line at www.amfar.org.

Please share memories of Michael at his guest book below.