Victor F. Cilke

Victor Cilke, 95 of Petoskey, Michigan entered the gates of Heaven to join his beloved wife and daughter on Saturday, May 14, 2022.

Victor was born August 15, 1926, in Chicago, Illinois, to Robert and Olga Cilke. He grew up in Boyne Falls and graduated Valedictorian from Boyne Falls Schools in 1943.

On April 24, 1948, he married the love of his life Gertrude “Trudy” Baines and they spent 66 wonderful years together before she was taken to heaven in 2014.

He was past president of Petoskey Kiwanis Club, Member of Gideons International local chapter (Distributing bibles to jails, schools, and colleges).He did Jail Ministry for many years.

He was the Secretary-Treasurer of Fochtman Motor Company until it sold to Carquest. Fochtman Realty Company Secretary-Treasurer, Little Traverse Properties – Partner, Co-founder of Lakeshore Tire and Supply, Jaybar Investment Company, and Little Traverse Motel. Co-Owner of Petoskey Car Wash and Bay Buick, Pontiac, Cadillac.

He served in the Military service from 1944 to 1946 as Staff Sargent and played in the Army Service Band.

He was a member of Petoskey Assembly of God 1949, Sunday School Teacher, and board member for many years. He was a member of Word of Life Community Church from 2003 to present, and a member of Suncoast Cathedral in St. Petersburg, Florida.

His Lord and Savior Jesus Christ was number one in his life and his family. He was a wonderful husband, dad, grandpa, great grandpa, and great-great grandpa and friend to everyone. He was a man of Character, Godly Wisdom, a true man of God in talk and actions, strength and integrity. He was a great man with a good NAME. He loved playing the organ. When the church doors were open, he taught us that we should be there, whether it was to mow the lawn, clean the church or attend church services, we were there as a family. We are thankful for our long heritage of Godly influence. He taught us the power of prayer and unconditional love.

He is survived by his three daughters, Linda (George) Newson, Vicki (David) Paulus, and Connie (Ken) Golding; along with his grandchildren, Christi (Troy) Slater, Phillip (Jennifer) Clacko, Connie (Corey) Lansing, Chad Newson, Kay Lynn (Cody) Garrett, Stacy (John) Alexandrowski, Matthew (Caroline) Paulus, Michael (Amy) Paulus, Lynnsey (Brad) Klooster, Nathan (Erica) Golding, and Taylor (Ellie) Golding; 23 great-grandchildren; 5 great-great-grandchildren; three sisters, Erma Kolenda, Ruth Hilton and Elaine Roberts.

He was preceded in death by his wife Trudy; infant daughter, Kathleen June; parents Robert and Olga Cilke; brothers, Elmer Cilke, Robert (Eleanor) Cilke, Beata (Jack) Van Treese, and Olga (Robert) Earney.

Visitation will be at 10 a.m. Friday, June 17, 2022, followed by the funeral service at 11 a.m. at Trinity Missionary Church, 600 N. Division Rd., Petoskey. The Cilke family would encourage those wishing to remember Vic to do so with memorial contributions to Gideons International, PO Box 97251, Washington DC, 20090-7251 or McLaren Hospice of Petoskey. 

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