Memorial Fund for Fred Alan Lawnicki
"Those we hold closest to our hearts never truly leave us. They live on in the kindness they have shared and the love they brought into our lives." -easyday
Life doesn't always go as we expect it and we often find ourselves caught up in the middle of a whirlwind when tragedy happens. We never wish for our loved ones to get sick and we never ever want for them to pass away. But when the leaf is turned, we can't change the outcome.
With the breeze of a cool Thanksgiving day, we said goodbye to our dad, husband, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend. Nothing can ever take the sting away, but there was one thing for sure, Fred Alan Lawnicki is a name that you can never forget.
He was born in Detroit, Michigan to Thaddeus and Lottie Lawnicki, on February 11, 1944. He grew up with his older brother Ted Lawnicki in a brick home in Dearborn, Michigan.
Many of you have amazing and fun memories of Fred and we would love for you to share your stories with us. We want Fred's memory to live on. Here are some memories that our family wanted to share with you about our husband, dad, grandpa, uncle, and friend:
Donna- Shopping at stores was always a different experience with my husband Fred. We would normally separate in the various stores and he would return with stories of his escapades. His favorite interaction with a Target clerk was: The clerk at Target asked him if he needed help, his response was “yes, I lost my wife” I will help you find her, but Fred would say, “no I’m trying to find the door”. Grocery shopping was a challenge, I would need help with the groceries, and he would be next to the bagger telling his jokes instead of helping me. I didn’t mind because he loved making people laugh. I would play along and sometimes have to remind him of the punch line. I will never forget the many people he made laugh, no “roar” as he liked to say. He carried in his truck a cheat sheet of jokes and would glance at it before going into stores. Shopping was his stage and he loved to perform.
A few weeks ago, the cashier at the Polish market asked me “where’s your husband, I was looking forward to hearing if he had any new jokes”. I have your cheat sheet in case I forget Fred, but I will never forget you.
Kimi- When I was little dad built me a treehouse with a sandbox underneath and the race car track for my hot wheels. One year in the winter, He even made me a giant hill to sled on. And when I grew up and got married I remember him sitting at the head of the table at our Sunday dinners at his house. He always made us laugh. I also remember at Christmas time we would give us Lotto scratch off tickets and a coin for all the grandkids. The most recent memory is of him randomly sending text messages saying, "thinking of you love you xo." Love you dad.
Jennifer- My dad had the most generous heart there was. I remember a time when we were at Walmart and someone came and asked me for some money, I gave him $10. My dad pulled out his wallet and chased the man down to give him $40 more dollars. He came back to me and asked, do you think that was enough? This was a moment in my life where I realized that my dad's giving heart was so large that he would have given all that he had. That I one day wanted to grow up to be like him. I remember as a little girl him reaching behind his seat while he drove to grab my leg to let me know he loved me and tucking me in so tight that I couldn't breathe and then kissing me goodnight.
Amanda-I mostly remember dad's day-to-day activities. Like how he got so excited to feed the squirrels (even though one scratched him). Or how he would always wear shoes in the house so you could hear him stomping around all the time. Or how he would recount his pranks and jokes and always end it by saying that the other person "roared" (presumably with laughter). Or when he would figure something out or invent something, he would get so excited about it. Most of all, I remember his hugs, his laughter, and his love.
Nicole- My dad always wanted a boy. Nevertheless he was stuck with me as his last baby girl. This didn’t stop him from wrestling with me though. When I was little, my dad and I would try to pin each other down on the bed. Of course he was stronger and would win quickly. I remember him being so rough because he didn’t know his own strength. I’d yell our code word “uncle!” when I wanted him to let go. As he pinned my shoulders down and shook, he’d yell “I’ll never let you go!! Time passed and I got older...and stronger. Soon I was pinning down my dad and yelling “I’ll never let you go!” as revenge. It was our little joke for the rest of his life. I’ll never let him go.
Steven Jr.- One of my favorite memories about grandpa was when he called me and told me he got the Model A running. He had been working on it longer than I have been able to walk. The day he got it running, I could tell how proud and excited he was to finally have us all see it. He would always bring it up at every holiday dinner or any time we came over. When I came to see it, I never saw him more excited to take the cover off and to get it going. I'm glad he got to get it running, that's something he always wanted to do.
Austin- There is a reason for everything in this world and God does things for a reason. One of the best things I could have done was working asphalt with him the past 2 years. It allowed me to spend a lot of time with him and he gave me so much advice for my life going ahead. I will cherish all of those moments God gave me with him. Though he won't be at my wedding he was there for my baptism and for me entering the Catholic faith which is really important I got to have him there for that. I love you so much Grandpa.
Juliana- I remember on Christmas day grandpa coming out with a plastic spider and dangled it in front of Olivia and I trying to scare us. He would chase us around the house with it. Then he let us borrow it to scare Steven and Austin when they came over. It was so funny. I miss his drawing and his tips he gave me. I wanted more of them. I love you grandpa.
Olivia- I remember two days before Christmas grandpa was coming out of the kitchen and I went into the kitchen to help grandma with setting the table. Grandpa said from the hallway, looks like the dog pooped! Grandma said we better clean it up and so grandma went to grab a paper towel and then grandpa picked it up with his hands. He said, what do you mean, it's fake.. and we all started to giggle. I miss your jokes grandpa.
Rachael- No words I write will do my Uncle justice. His smile was infectious and his heart was filled with love for his family. He was the kindest man I’ve ever known. He was smiling right until the end, that’s because of his loving family. They made sure he was comfortable and surrounded by love and happy memories. When I was young, I always looked up to Donna and Fred as an example of what “true love” looked like. Even after the same cheesy dad jokes for years, they still seemed so happy every time I saw them. They always had each other's backs. I hope to have a similar relationship, a true partner in crime. One who will push asphalt with me on a 100 degree day. I promised Uncle Fred that I would always be there for his daughters. He spent so much of his life taking care of others and I promise to live my life in the same manner. Rest In Peace Uncle Fred. You will be missed but always remembered.
Fred's memory lives on by his loving wife, Donna Lawnicki and his daugthers, Kimi LeBlanc, Jennifer Colburn, Amanda Lawnicki and Nicole Lawnicki.
"Your life was a blessing, your memory a treasure, you are loved beyond words, and missed beyond measure." -Renee Wood
Visitation and Memorial will be Friday, December 4.
3-4pm is Visitation for Family
4-6pm is Open Visitation for Friends
6pm Funeral Service (Family Only)
A zoom link is provided for all those that want to watch the service and it will be recorded for those that need to watch it later.
Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88934280918?pwd=aWMwRk1oTEl5RU9WTDhvcmQzNXYyZz09&fbclid=IwAR0l72qyAtBkFpx_vetu5iC7JnL8wSPa4KdnJc4he5zm8ioW7M0GkAvNdBQ#success
Meeting ID: [phone redacted] 0918
Passcode: 976389
Flowers can be sent to (Up to Dec. 4 Only):
Santeiu Funeral Home
1139 Inkster Rd, Garden City, MI 48135
Cards and Gifts can be sent to:
Donna Lawnicki
PO Box 688
Dearborn Heights, MI 48127
All funds will go toward funeral expense and other necessary needs for the family. Our family thanks you from the bottom of our hearts for the outpouring of love and support you have shown us all. 
