John Wolovlek

With a diverse palette of interests, John Wolovlek lived a rich and fulfilling life, but in his eyes there was truly no greater joy than loving those around him. He was a family man through and through who did whatever needed to be done in order to provide his loved ones with the life they treasured. John was a kind and generous man who loved sharing his passions with those around him, giving back to the community he called home throughout his life. In everything he did, John carried himself with integrity, strength, and goodwill, creating a legacy that will be woven throughout the generations who follow him. Amidst a decade that came to be known as The Roaring Twenties, 1923 was a year peppered with noteworthy events. Time Magazine was launched and it was also the year that saw the explosion of African Americans onto the music scene with greats like Louis Armstrong. This was a year of celebration in the family of John and Helen (Windberg) Wolovlek since it was on March 26th that they welcomed the birth of their son, John Jr. Born in Spring Lake, Michigan, John was the second of four children in his family including his older brother, William, his younger siblings, Francis and Mary. John was raised in the family home right on Spring Lake where he loved to swim and fish. His father worked at the local tannery while his mother was homemaker. Tragedy struck early in Johns life with the death of his mother when he was just 10 years old and as a result, he helped raise his younger siblings. John left school in the 10th grade to find work during the trying times of the Great Depression. Jobs were scarce, but John was able to secure employment at Oldberg Corporation, a factory in Grand Haven. Life was forever changed for John when he met a young woman named Colleen Corbett. They dated for a time, but their blossoming romance was interrupted when John joined the Army during WWII. He served in North Africa and Italy, even ending up in a foxhole with Audie Murphy the most decorated American soldier of WWII. While he was overseas, John corresponded with Colleen through letters. He had beautiful handwriting and often wrote wonderful poems for his sweetheart. After his military duty was fulfilled, John returned home and married Colleen. Soon, the couple was blessed with the birth of their son, John III. in 1946. John Jr. was later followed by three daughters who enriched their lives, Jill, Cynthia, and Chari. In order to support his family, John returned to work at Oldberg Corporation where he operated a hi-lo. Although his marriage to Colleen ended in divorce after eight years, John remained very close to his children. He spent a lot of time with them and was always there when they needed him. Oftentimes after John finished his work day, he stopped by at Zigs where a woman named Carol Lewis tended bar. The two hit it off, began dating, and fell in love. Together they celebrated the births of two daughters, Cheryl and Debra. They made their love official by exchanging their vows on October 14, 1960. They later welcomed three sons into their hearts and home: Jim, Michael, and Richard. In 1962 they settled into a house on Dangl Road in the Cloverville area where John would call home throughout the rest of his life. John was an affectionate father who kissed all his children every morning. He remained very involved in their lives as they got older, too, always wanting to know where they were going and who they were going with, and he was clear that he expected a phone call once they arrived safely. On one occasion, John even drove through a terrible snowstorm to make sure that his children made it home safely. John worked hard to support his family, often holding down two jobs. In addition to his full-time job, he also worked as a bartender at both Pin Crest Lanes and Ye Old Tavern in Fruitport. John retired from Oldberg in the early eighties after 40 years of dedicated service. Through the years, John lived an active life. He was a fantastic bowler who was the first person in Muskegon County to bowl an 800 series in league competition. John also taught junior league bowling to kids at Pin Crest Lanes in Fruitport and at other area lanes as well. He was a patient and gracious teacher who shared his passion with hundreds of children through the years. Every year for the bowling tournament at the Eagles in Muskegon, the Wolovleks nearly took over the entire bowling alley as John also passed his love for bowling on to his family. When Johns family grew to include grandchildren, they certainly kept him busy as he and Carol babysat them on a regular basis. In fact, they basically raised a couple of their grandchildren. Later in life, John took up golf, and he became quite good at it, too. He worked as a ranger at Chase Hammond Golf Club for over 10 years. John often had his grandson help him get golf balls out of the pond that they later cleaned and sold, using the money to buy his grandson new golf clubs. John was also a very talented artist who liked to draw with pencils. He was even offered a job as an illustrator for Coca Cola once upon a time. After suffering a stroke in 2004, John was forced to slow down. He still went to the driving range, but wasnt able to actually play much golf anymore. John kept in close contact with his children and grandchildren, and he was thrilled to celebrate his 50th wedding anniversary with a big party. Not long after, Johns brother William died, and John took it very hard. Eventually, his body grew tired and he drew his last breath. With a contagious zest for life, John Wolovlek Jr. was passionate about loving his family. He made the most of what life has to offer and never stopped being grateful for every blessing he was given. John leaves behind a masterfully woven tapestry of memories that will be forever cherished by those who loved him dearly. John Wolovlek, Jr. died Saturday, December 25, 2010 at home. Johns family includes his wife, Carol; 5 daughters, Jill (John Schmidt) Wolovlek, Cynthia (Robert) Kolanko, Chari (James) Zysk all, of Grand Haven, Cheryl (David Tinsley) Wolovlek of Montague, Debra Wolovlek of Florida; 4 sons, John (Martha) Wolovlek III of Grand Haven, Jim (Regina) Wolovlek of Holland, Michael Wolovlek of Fruitport, Richard Wolovlek of Fruitport; sister, Mary Strawser of Indiana; sister-in-law, Dorothy Wolovlek of Spring lake; 17 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren; and 3 great-great-grandchildren. John was preceded in death by his brothers, William and Francis. A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, December 28, 2010, 12:00 Noon at Clock Life Story Funeral Home in Fruitport, MI, with Fr. Norm Droski officiating. Visit with Johns family and friends on Tuesday, one hour prior to the service at Clock Chapel Fruitport. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com where you can leave a memory or make a memorial contribution to the family.