Bernard Joseph Stachnik

Bernard Joseph Stachnik, 80, of Maple City died Monday, March 7, 2016 at Orchard Creek Rehabilitation Center in Traverse City.

Bernard was born on Saturday, March 23, 1935 to the late John and Mary (Czerniak) Stachnik in Leelanau County. On Saturday, May 19, 1962 in Detroit, he married the former Eleanor Ilene Bartkowski.

Bernard was employed as a sheet metal worker for General Motors for over 30 years prior to his retirement. He was a member of UAW Union 909, and was a member of St. Ephrems Catholic Parish in Sterling Heights. After moving back to Leelanau County, he was a member at Holy Rosary Parish in Cedar. Bernard loved the out of doors, gardening, golfing and bowling. He really enjoyed cars and old time country western performers and also enjoyed polka dancing. He had a great love of fixing things and was a very gifted "tinkerer", often fabricating the items that he needed in fixing things.

He is survived by his sons, Gary of Rochester Hills, Glen of Macomb and his son in law Karl Bednarowski of Washington Township. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Kristin, Kaitlyn, Karlee, Kyle, Brooklyn, Veronica and Kelton as well as his siblings, Ray , Lorraine (Tom) Kulanda and Larry (Betty) all of Cedar. Bernard was preceded in death by his wife Ilene, his daughter, Gail Bednarowski and his siblings, John, Louie, Al and Alice.

Visitation for friends and family will be held Friday, March 11 from 1 until 3 p.m. at St. Francis Catholic Church. The Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 3 p.m. with his nephew, The Rev. Fr. Ken Stachnik presiding. Burial will be in Resurrection Cemetery in Clinton Township at a later date.

Memorial contributions may be directed to St. Francis Catholic Church or to Mass Intentions.