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Joe Ulanski
Born: 3/12/1960
Died: 6/21/2020
Age: 60
Community: Flushing , MI
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Joseph Edward Ulanski made his journey home, to his heavenly Father, Sunday, June 21, 2020, in Flint, Michigan. He was born Saturday, March 12, 1960, in Flint, Michigan, to Marian Elizabeth (Ill) and Edward Joseph Ulanski. Of all the siblings, most would say that Joseph bared the closest resemblance to their father. He was a “mini-Edward” with blonde hair. Joseph was welcomed into the family by older siblings Elaine Ann, Thomas (Tom) Harston, Diane Mary, Robert (Bobby), Mary Anne (Mik), and Therese (Terry). Joseph and his siblings would enjoy welcoming their baby brother, James (Jim), two years later.
Joseph grew up in Flint Michigan, on Philadelphia Street where he would form life long friendships and memories. He was sickly as a child, but he was a fighter. He was born with jaundice, an asthmatic, among other childhood illnesses. He never let his aliments keep him down. He grew up Catholic and attended Catholic schools kindergarten through high school. Family and Friends called him Joe. Joe could be mischievous as a child and gave the family many fond memories to smile back on. One such memory was when he was about four years old. He had somehow disappeared from the backyard while playing. His mother frantically searched the neighborhood for him, but couldn’t find him or anyone who may have seen him. She returned home in a panic and soon saw a police car pulling up to the house. There stood little Joey on the backseat, arms stretched across the backseat like he was some-kind-of-special… you know King Sh**! Joe had some spare change burning a hole in his pocket and rather than catch fire he took it upon himself to walk to Niezel’s Drugstore to buy his little girlfriend, Donna Grimm, some Candy! His heart was in a good place, but we pretty sure his butt wasn’t when his mother got through with him.
Joe had a wonderful childhood filled with fond memories of family and friend get-togethers. A favorite childhood memory for Joe would be the family’s visits to Grandma and Grandpa Ill’s home in L’anse, Michigan. Joe would spend hours fishing or climbing rocks in the Falls River. Much of his time would be spent being Big Brother to James. He enjoyed showing James the “ropes” to life and their time together would forge a life-long brotherly bond. Joe spent many hours with his childhood friend, Mark Zyber, and between the two of them, they could fill a book with stories of the adventures and shenanigans! Another favorite place for Joe was the local PLAV (Polish Legion of American Vets) where he would attend picnics and other special events with his mother and father, who were members. As a teen, Joe LOVED to spend time in Clio, Michigan, at the home of his sister Diane and the home of brother and sister-in-law, Tom and Kathy. He was very smitten with Kathy and often couldn’t hide his teenage crush. He loved his big brother Tom and was wanted to be just like him. In the words of Joe, taken from a message Joe sent to Tom’s daughter upon learning of Tom’s passing: “I have always admired and was in awe of him and really wanted to be just like him… it just didn’t work out like I planned. I had some great times on the weekends/summers in Clio. I always wanted to and sometimes did “help”.” Tragedy struck the Ulanski family in the summer of 1968 when Joe’s older brother, Bobby, passed away after being seriously injured in the backyard of the family’s home. It would be events like this that would shape Joe’s world and make him appreciate and cherish life, family, and friends. Family was EVERYTHING to Joe, especially as the years passed by.
Joe was a member of the Boy Scouts, which he had the pleasure of spending quality time with his Dad, the Scout Leader. In 1978, he graduated from Luke M. Powers Catholic High School.
Shortly after graduating, Joe proudly joined the United States Marines in 1978 and served for two years. He was proud of his service time and enjoyed meeting others and honoring others who served. During a short leave, Joe came home to marry, his girlfriend Teresa Lynn Hohenstein. The couple welcomed two beautiful boys into this world, Joseph Edward II (Joey) 1981 and Michael James Ulanski 1983. Although Joe and Terri’s union did not last Joe had no regrets and continued to carry a high regard for Terri, for sharing the blessing of parenthood with him, and for being an amazing mother to their boys. Joe was proud to be a father and loved the title “Pops” given to him by Joey and Michael. Joe would be blessed again, when his children gave him the honor and privilege of being called Poppa with the birth of his amazing grandchildren Xavier, Ariannah, and Anderson.
Joe had a long term relationship that blessed him with two step-children Carl and Robbie which in turn gave him the blessing of two loving grandchildren Justyce and Talon. Joe loved them as if they were his own.
Joe spent the last 8 years enjoying his career as a New Car Lot manager at Suski Chevrolet. He made many friends and he loved his work family.
Joe took almost 42 years to meet the love of his life, his muse, Jeannie Nora Morley. They met around 2002 and in 2012 they made their relationship official when they got engaged and vowed to take the rest of life’s journey hand in hand. The couple enjoyed life to the fullest and together blended their families as if they had always been one. Their union gave Joe more children to call family, Lindsay and Chelsea Morley, and the two of them gave him the bonus of being Poppa to their wonderful children Isabelle, Ashlynn, Cadence, Lillian, and Scarlett. Joe could not have been happier than he was with Jeannie, in his words: “My world is complete with her in it and I can’t imagine life without her by my side.”
Joe had a love for music, anything from the seventies and ANYTHING Beetles! The two songs that meant so much to Joe were the Beatles’s In My Life and Norman Greenbaum’s Spirit In The Sky. Many times, he would tell Jeannie the story of being at a Christian Retreat and Spirit In The Sky was playing, the message in the lyrics gave him strength and his faith grew stronger. Joe loved watching sports and he had his favorites; Detroit Tigers, Michigan State, Red Wings, and Jeannie and his very own Flint Firebirds. Jeannie was able to get him to the last Firebird game for his birthday just before CoVid struck, it is a memory she will cherish. He also thoroughly enjoyed was Jeannie and his weekly game of the old Egyptian game Senet. Joe loved any sports-related movie. It was well known by close family and friends that if you were around Joe’s during the Christmas Holiday Season you would be sure to find one of the versions of Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol (Scrooge) playing on the TV. Anyone who truly knew Joe would know MOST favorite movie genres was comedies, Jeannie and he must have seen “A League Of Their Own,” once or twice a year. As sick as he had gotten in his final hours he saw Jeannie tearing up and said to her, “There is no crying in baseball.” He brought a smile to her face and she laughed.
Joe will be remembered for his witty personality, kind-caring heart, willingness to help others, lend an ear or give you a pep-talk. His love for God and love for learning more about the bible’s teachings and messages. Most of all he will be remembered for being a friend to everyone he met. Joe was truly a loved friend by all.
Joe’s family would like to give special thanks to Dr. K and Dr. Weinberg, of the V. A., for their exceptional care and the wonderful team at McLaren hospital who took such good care of Joe during his final days.
Joe was preceded in death by his father Edward Ulanski, mother Marian Ulanski, brothers Tom Ulanski, Robert Ulanski, Jim Ulanski, sister Sharon (Sherry) Ulanski, several aunts, uncles, cousins.
Joe is survived by fiancée, Jeannie Morley; children, Joey Ulanski, Michael (Lindsay) Ulanski, Lindsay Morley, and Chelsea Morley; grandchildren Justyce, Talon, Xavier, Ariannah, Isabelle, Ashlynn, Cadence, Lillian, Scarlett, and Anderson; siblings, Elaine Schuster, Diane (Mike) Moore, Mik Ulanski Stone, and Terry Ulanski; sister-in-law, Kathy Ulanski, Suzanne Ulanski; good friend Mark Zyber; and many beloved cousins, nieces, nephews, extended relatives, and friends.
In lieu of flowers please make a donation to Joe's burial fund https://gf.me/u/ybhaa7 |
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| Visitation |
| Date: |
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6/30/2020 |
| Time: |
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10:00 AM |
| Visitation will be at the church Tuesday from 10 a.m. until the time of the Mass. |
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| Funeral Service |
| Date: |
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6/30/2020 |
| Time: |
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11:00 AM |
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| Location: |
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St. John Vianney Catholic Church
2415 Bagley Street
Flint, MI 48504Get a Map to this location...
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| Official: |
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Fr. Tom Firestone |
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