Well it has been over one year now and you are a near daily remebrance especially when I find a penny during my many walks.  Love Bruce

Our hearts are filled with wonderful memories of joyful times together especially the last 6 years of dads' life.  He decided to move into Independence Village with mom because she needed more care during that time and to live closer to me.  They remained independent and of strong minds .  At times dad  missed Hamtramck and my thought was "if mom passed first dad was going to move back to Hamtramck".  He was very proud of his polish heritage and for that reason never changed his last name like all his brothers changed it to Gregory.  He was of very sound mind at 98 and was up on world affairs. He did not like the direction the world is headed.  He was a very kindhearted man but also liked to complain and at times it was comical, especially when mom and dad disagreed.  He enjoyed communicating by writing letters to his sister Helen and brother Richard.  He enjoyed going to parties if he wasn't the guest of honor. He missed out on his 90th birthday we threw at a polish restaurant in Hamtramck and stayed home to make a microwave dinner. It was always his way as mom would say.   He also enjoyed many days at the Windsor Casino and was a high roller and he would get comp nights. Mom was not a gambler but like to go just to get away. She would walk around and look for change in the slots not knowing it was illegal to take the tokens because it was the casino's money.  She would end up with a purse full of tokens but never sat at a slot machine.  Dad was a very strong believer in the Catholic faith and slept with a rosary under his pillow. 

Dad was born on February 12, 1917 on Lincoln's birthday  he passed way on a Monday the day before Fat Tuesday and on Presidents day. Among the traditions that hold Polish Hamtramck together today is Pczki Day, on Fat Tuesday'. Folks from all over metro Detroit line up at the city's Polish bakeries to purchase anywhere from one to dozens of pczki. 

Joseph  Grzegorzewski arrived in America at the age of 10 in 1900 his port of departure was Hamburg, Germany he was of German Polish decent.  He married Helen Borchman on April 19, 1910. Dad was born and raised in Hamtramck he had five brothers and two sisters a very large polish family. He grew up during the Great Depression and is the reason he never threw anything out and was grateful for what he had.  Helen his mother lived to be 103 years old.  Clarence was determined to live to be 100 but fell  just short of two years.  His original birth certificate shows his name as Leo but grandma changed it to Clarence. 
Dad served in the United States Army from 1942 to 1946 during WWII he was a clerk typist and typed 35 wpm.  He was awarded a disability pension due to his right knee condition.  He served in Central Europe.
In 1948 he was hired to the permanent rank of fireman in the Hamtramack Fire Department on March 2, 1948 and retired on March 19, 1971. He then continued to work as a security officer for Chrysler for 10 years. 
 He met mom after the war in the 1950's they were engaged for two years before they married.  They had a large traditional polish wedding.  They married on October 14, 1952 at Saint Florian Church in Hamtramck and raised us boys there Bruce, Paul and Mark.  
I followed in my father footsteps and became a Hamtramck Firefighter in 1976 and retired in 2006. What a great role model he was for me. 
I will dearly miss my dad and all the conversations we had. At times I would agree to not disagree, you know how that is. Always honor you mother and father and I did. 
For the believer, death is the gateway into the promise of eternal life as we shed our earthly bodies to enter into the presence of God (1 Corinthians 15:50-53). 
Love, Paul and Janet
Good Bye Dad!

Love you and already miss you very much.  Josephine, Bruce, Paul and Mark.  Will always hear your voice in our ears and hearts along with your whistling.  You are terrific.  By the way, most of your clothing has been donated to the Salvation Army, but you already knew that.  Oh your pin-up board of personal pictures really reflects your life, your passion for people and your always devotion to be of service to family, friends and others.

My wife Claudia and I were neighbors for 8 years on Norwalk St. Clarence was always kind and gracious to us. Rest in peace. Jim Kujawski

Deepest condolences to the Grzegorzewski family.  I always enjoyed talking to Clarence and enjoyed the times he came to visit the firehouse.

May you rest in peace with your family and The Lord. He lived a long and full life. Too bad he didn't enjoy his pizza party on his birthday this year. He saw all of his grandchildren and great grandson before he passed. He will be missed. Love ya grandpa.

Clarence had retired by the time I got hired on the FD but he would stop in from time to time and we all respected him and welcomed him. He will be missed...

OBITUARY

Clarence Frederick Grzegorzewski

February 12, 1917 – February 16, 2015

Elton Black & Son Funeral Home

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