John M. Tezak

John Matthew Tezak passed peacefully this past Saturday, March 27, 2021, in Petoskey. Michigan, near his Indian River home.  He was 83 years old.  John was born to Matthew Fred Tezak and Mary Bolich Tezak July 3, 1937 (at 5 minutes to midnight, as his mother always reiterated) in Ironwood Michigan.

He loved being involved with his family, their events and activities; including sister Delores, and brothers Fred and Tom. John was always involved in sports and was an avid sports fan.  He played football, basketball, and ran track in high school.  His football team, the 1953 Ironwood Red Devils under Coach Kramer, won the state championship-division B.  John was proud to be inducted into the Ironwood Area Sports Hall of Fame for that achievement.

He graduated from Northern Michigan University with a BA degree in education, where he also met his future bride, Carole Sue LaFond.  John later received his master’s degree in History from Northern as well. He taught in the Waterford, Michigan school district for 35 years.  He called his Waterford Township colleagues his 2nd family.  When Township closed, John taught at Waterford Mott.  Mr. Tezak, some students called him “Mr. T”, gave his last class lecture and retired from teaching in 1993.

The upper peninsula of Michigan was where John felt the most content and at home. He went back as often as he could to see family and be involved in all outside activities; especially hunting, fishing, hiking, snowshoeing, sledding and cross country skiing.  It was no surprise when he decided to move the family home in Clarkston to as close to the UP as wife and family obligations would allow.  

John is remembered by all as a caring, sensitive family man of integrity who loved to laugh, joke, play cards, dance, support church events and be moral support wherever and however he could.  He was a member of the Knights of Columbus, Ironwood council and belonged to The Cross-in-the-Woods parish.  Mainly he was the best Dad, Papa, Friend that his wife, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren could ever have wished for. He came up with a “club” so that when his wife had something to do the “girls” wouldn’t miss her.  It was called the Banana Club.  John will always be his families’ “TOP BANANA”.  We already miss him.

John is preceded in death, by his parents Fred and Mary Tezak, His mother and father-in-law Jean and Raymond LaFond, his sister-in-law Babette LaFond, his brother-in-law Paul Garnish, his nephew Tom Garnish, his great nephew Kyle Moffett, and his niece‘s husband Gary Shannon.  We hope his “buddies” Trixie, Sniffer Puppy Dog, and Pudge greeted him on the other side with the same Joy he had for them in this life.   John is survived by his wife of almost 60 years, Carole; his 3 daughters: Renee Marie Tezak,  Susan Lynn Devloo (husband Gary), and Julie Ann Lindeman (husband Neil); his seven granddaughters: Carissa Jean Lindeman (Fiancé Timo Knerr), Shoshanna Carole Lindeman, Julnel Danika Lindeman, Hannah Jean Tezak, Mamie Gar Hayes (husband Bobbie),  Chloe Aurora  and Eleanor Rose Tezak, one Great Granddaughter, Lilah Mae. He is also survived by his sister Delores Garnish and family, brother Fred and wife Marge Tezak and family, brother Thomas and wife Kari Tezak and family, sister in-law Judith and husband Laurence Coder and family, brother in-law James and wife Laurie LaFond and family, sister-in-law Pamela and husband Brian Gray and Family, brother in-law Daniel and wife Carla LaFond and family , brother in-law Robin and wife Shirley LaFond and family, brother in-law Douglas and wife Reba LaFond and Family, brother in-law Kim LaFond and partner John Gast.  

 In lieu of flowers please make a donation to the Alzheimer’s Association or The American Diabetes Association.

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