Wayne John Niedzinski
Wayne Niedzinski, age 52, died unexpectedly at his home in Calumet on November 3, 2014 of heart failure. He had been in ill health for the last several months.
Wayne was born on August 24, 1962 to Marion and Victoria Niedzinski in Bay City, Michigan. He was raised in Bay City and graduated from Bay City All Saints High School. He was also a graduate of the Ohio Institute of Technology with an Associate degree as an Electronics Technician and had worked in the technical area for over twenty years in the Detroit suburban area.
In 2007 his loving family brought him to Calumet to begin a new life in recovery through the Phoenix House. He embraced both recovery and his new home always believing that he had truly moved to “God’s Country”. Choosing to remain in Calumet after completing his treatment Wayne worked for Calumet Electronics before joining the staff at the Phoenix House in 2008. There he first was employed as a night manager and more recently as the Outpatient Intake Coordinator and residential counselor on the evening and weekend shifts. Wayne was a tenderhearted man, a gentle man, who was sensitive and generous to those he worked with at the Phoenix House and in community recovery groups. He was the one many would call when in trouble knowing that he would reach out without judgment to provide whatever help was needed whether a ride, money for a meal, or a listening ear.
In addition to his work at the Phoenix House Wayne also did computer work for many organizations and small businesses. He was gifted in diagnosing and fixing problems that perplexed others usually undercharging for his skill, always humble to a fault.
In the little spare time he had Wayne enjoyed taking rides throughout his adopted home peninsula and fishing which had been his lifetime passion and where he found a peacefulness that seemed to elude him elsewhere. He remembered good times fishing on St. Clair Lake near Bay City but loved fishing throughout the Keweenaw in all seasons especially at Copper Harbor. Wayne was the one to introduce many Phoenix House residents to the beauty of the Keweenaw and his van rides on the weekends are remembered by many as a welcome respite from the hard work and stress of treatment.
He is survived by a sister Karen Kopka (Stephan) of Standish, brother Ronald Niedzinski (Sharon) of Chelsea, and nieces and nephews Jennifer Doran, Michael Mrozinski, Jerome Niedzinski, Lynn Young, Jill Sklenar, Jane Marthaler, Ann Ulstad, and James Niedzinski. He is also survived by his loving Phoenix House “family” and many friends who he cared for and who cared for him. He died not really alone but wrapped in the love of his family and friends who never stopped reaching out to him in his time of need and who will miss him and grieve his untimely death.
There will be a gathering of friends to greet family and to share memories at the Grace Christian Fellowship Church,25890 Pine Street in Calumet on Thursday, November 13, 2014 at 11:00 AM followed by a lunch in the fellowship hall.
The Erickson Crowley Peterson Funeral Home is assisting the family. Online condolences can be left for the family at www.ericksoncrowleypeterson.com
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