Edward Nawrocki

It has been said that it takes a special sort of man to truly touch people’s hearts. Edward F. “Butch” Nawrocki was just that sort of man—a kind and loving husband, father, and grandfather, a friend to all who knew him. Butch was a man who saw the good in everyone he met and who will live on forever in the hearts of all those whose lives he touched.

It was September 24, 1919. Woodrow Wilson was President. The Model T was in mass production and milk was 32¢ a gallon. It was the year Babe Ruth set the season homer mark at 28. And little Edward was born to Frank and Mary Nawrocki. Actually, he wasn’t so little. Being born at home, his folks took him down the street to the butcher shop to weigh him. He was laid in the butcher's scale and weighed in at 13 wonderful pounds—and, as the story goes, has been known as “Butch” ever since!

Frank and Mary lived at 934 Davis, N.W. at that time. Mary tended to things at home for “Butch” and his brothers, Jerome and Frank, Jr., and sister, Dorothy. Frank was a businessman who owned and operated Frank’s Tavern on Stocking Ave., N.W., a west side landmark now called the Kopper Top. If you’ve been there you know it’s a great place to meet friends old and new and share a good time. If you haven’t been there, well, you’re missing a fun spot and some of the best burgers on the west side of the state.

The Nawrocki’s were members of St. Adalbert’s Church. Butch attended St. Adalbert’s School and graduated from Catholic Central High School. He was a member of the first varsity baseball team earning the title of All City First Baseman. He also played in the summer baseball leagues on teams for American Seating and Globe Knitting. In addition to baseball Butch was a great bowler. He won the Polish State Championship in 1946.

Being a “West Sider” was a wonderful thing and Butch was true blue in that regard. Whether it was school, church, work, or the neighborhood it meant something to be a “West Sider” and was an important part of who you were. It was a beautiful place to be a kid, to grow up, and it always made you feel a part of something special. Butch liked everything about it. He also enjoyed going on family picnics and outings to different lakes in the area. And he loved polka music and to dance the polka, too.

After high school, Butch went to work at American Seating Co. Oftentimes he and others would hang out at St. Adalbert’s game room in the evenings and on weekends. And this is where he met a beautiful gal by the name of Charlene Czlonka who was working downtown at the Bissell Company. Butch asked her out. They went to see a movie at the Regent Theater on the West Side. They dated for three years and were married on Sept. 6, 1941 at St. Adalbert’s Church with a reception afterward at 5th St. Hall. The next day all the family and friends met at Charlene’s mother’s home to eat left over wedding food and celebrate the happy couple. In the typical Polish “Popovina” tradition, Charlene’s father played the accordion. The wedding turned out to be a three day party. But there was no honeymoon—Butch had to work on Monday. The newly married couple lived above Butch’s parents in an apartment. Charlene remembers Butch’s mother coming over to the house early that Monday morning with pancake batter to be sure her son had a hardy breakfast before work!

Like many young men during this time, Butch was called to serve his country. He was stationed at Ft. Riley, Kansas and Charlene was able to join him there for a time. While there for the birth of their first child, Mike, on Sept 30, 1944, Butch shipped out to Europe the following day and didn’t see his Mike again until he was 18 months old. Butch was gone three and a half years during the war. He was discharged on Christmas Day, 1945.

Butch and Charlene’s daughter, Marilynn, was born Oct 13, 1946, followed by Mark, born September 9, 1954. All the family attended St. Adalbert’s Church and elementary school. Mike graduated from Catholic Central High School and Marilynn and Mark graduated from West Catholic High School. The family lived at 654 Powers, NW then at 832 Van Buren, NW and most recently at 877 Kinney, NW in Walker.

Butch and Charlene and the kids often went on picnics to some of the same parks and area lakes Butch had gone to when he was growing up. They went to the Speed Drome in Comstock Park, too, to watch stock car racing and took some wonderful family vacations to Washington D.C., Niagara Falls, Kentucky, and the Virgin Islands to name a few.

Butch was an avid Notre Dame Football fan and the family spent many exciting Saturday afternoons at the stadium in South Bend. Butch took great pride in the fact that his son, Mike, graduated from Notre Dame.

Throughout the years, Butch loved to play card with his regular buddies: Fred Droski, Bob Chicklon, Eddie Zobro, Ed Cicone, and Gene Nawrocki. He played on several bowling leagues, too, winning many awards. Throughout his life, Butch loved golf, both playing and watching the senior tournaments at the Highlands. He was a baseball coach and umpire in both youth and adult leagues. He also loved to fish at Wolf Lake and also Meyers Lake. When the grandchildren were older he often took them fishing at the gravel pits. He taught the grandkids to polka, too, and of course, to bowl. He tried canoeing with Mark and his family at Boardman River near Traverse City but the canoe tipped over and he lost his hat. “Never again” he said. A year later Mark found his hat on the same river, gift wrapped it and gave it to his dad as a present!

Butch was a real family man. When his children were young, he was a wonderful baker of breads and cookies—and along with Charlene made popcorn balls and candies at Christmas time. He had a real knack for putting up Christmas decorations and the family always gathered at his home for Christmas and other holidays. His favorite place to be was with his family. He always attended the grandkids’ school and sporting events. He loved his wife, children and grandchildren. He always treated Charlene like a real lady, with love and respect and he never used foul language.

When he returned from the service in the Army Butch helped his dad out at the bar, eventually taking it over with his brother and sister when his father retired. Eventually Butch went to work for the Post Office where he worked until his retirement on August 31, 1983. He was a mail sorter, clerk and a customer service supervisor. He was a member of the Post Office Credit Union Board for a number of years and was on the Post Office golf league. After he retired he worked part time for Williams Marketing on deliveries and also drove a school bus for a time.

In their retirement Butch and Charlene traveled to California to visit his daughter Marilynn and her husband and toured many areas including the famous Napa Wine Country, Yosemite National Park and San Fransisco. They also enjoyed trips to Disneyland with their grandkids and also favorite spots in Michigan.

Butch was diagnosed with Crohn's disease eight years ago. After surgery he was fine but it came back in December 2002. Until now Butch led a very active life. Since December, though, the disease really slowed him down physically, and later became a hospice patient. On Ash Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2004, he had a slight stroke. He remained home with his family until he died, on Sunday, March 14 at 7:20 p.m.

Butch was a wonderful husband, father and grandfather and a friend to many. He touched numerous lives in a very special way and will be greatly missed.

He was preceded in death by his brothers, Jerome and Frank, Jr. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Charlene Nawrocki (Czlonka); his children, Mike and Belinda Nawrocki, Marilynn and Carl Neuhausen of Irvine, CA, Mark & Kay Nawrocki; his four grandchildren, Becca, Eric, Chad and Tyler “Butchie” Nawrocki; his sister, Dorothy Nawrocki; brother-in-law and sisters-in-law, Chet and Helen Czlonka and Dorothy Ebers; several nieces and nephews, cousins and many friends. He was a member of Holy Spirit Catholic Church where the funeral Mass will be celebrated on Thursday morning at 11 AM with burial in Holy Cross Cemetery. Visitation will be held at Alt & Shawmut Hills Chapel, 2120 Lake Michigan Dr., N.W. on Tuesday and Wednesday from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. A vigil service will be held at the funeral home on Wednesday evening at 7:30 p.m. The family would like to thank the staff of Hospice of Michigan for their loving care, and especially Rose, who provided much comfort and care to Butch and his family. Please visit Butch’s personal web page at www.lifestorynet.com where you can read his life story, leave your memories of him, order flowers and make contributions in his memory to West Catholic WIN Committee, Holy Spirit Education Foundation or Hospice of Michigan.