Dolores J. Michalak

Dolores (Dee) J. Michalak of Greeley, Colorado, passed away Friday, September 23, 2011 at age 85, in Greeley. She was born to Charles A. Stachowiak and Valeria A. (Jaskolski) Stachowiak on July 21, 1926 at St. Mary’s Hospital in LaSalle, Illinois. She was the oldest of 4 siblings who lovingly called her "Dode”. She attended Catholic and Parochial Schools in Peru, Illinois and was baptized and confirmed at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Peru. She married Donald G. Michalak on September 15, 1945 at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City. They began their married life in Delavan, Wisconsin living there until 1967 when they relocated to Broomfield, Colorado. They retired in 1989 and lived on the shores of Moose Lake in Hayward, Wisconsin until Don’s death in 1992. Dee then moved to Greeley, Colorado to be close to her daughter and granddaughter. Dee kept young at heart by taking part in her granddaughter’s life and sharing in her teenage and college years. Dee’s proudest moments were watching both her daughter and granddaughter graduate from the same college 33 years apart. Dee resided with her daughter for the past 12 years. Dee worked in different trades in her young adult life including Wesclox in Peru, Nabisco Company in New York City, Borg Manufacturing, Rustads Drug Store and Wickes Lumber Company in Delavan before moving to Colorado. In Broomfield, Dee loved working as a bookkeeper at Scientific Enterprise for 22 years. Dee had an adventurous spirit and enjoyed the outdoor activities of camping, fishing and hunting. She loved dancing, gambling, traveling, the Colorado Rocky Mountains, playing cards with her Pinochle Card Ladies and was a loyal Green Bay Packer Fan. She was a whiz at Cryptograms and Crossword Puzzles. Dee enjoyed going to Craft Shows with her daughter where she would add to her large Angel Collection of pins and statues. Dee always wore an Angel Pin carefully selected among the dozens she had collected. Dee was a member of Greeley Senior Center, Greeley RSVP, Westminster Elks Club, and the USS Houston Association. She is survived by her daughter, Karen Michalak of Greeley; granddaughter, Valerie Michalak of Copper Mountain, Colorado; brother, Donald (Smoky) Stachowiak (Patricia) of Rock Falls, Illinois; sisters, Diana (Dolly) Doty (Donald) of Montrose, Colorado and Denise Hasty of Cape Coral, Florida; nieces, Debby, Deanna, Dana, Amy, Ann and Sarah; nephews, DJ and Dan; great nieces, Alisha, Kendall, Paige, Emily, Avery; and great nephew, Christian. She is also survived by many friends and her favorite lap companion, her cat Sparky. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; son; Donald Lee, and brother-in-law, Jack Hasty. She will be forever loved and greatly missed by those who called her, Mom, Grandma, Dode, Aunt and Dee. She brought joy to all with her sense of humor and quick wit. No services by request. She will be buried at St. Valentine’s Cemetery, Peru, Ill next to her husband and son. Afterglow I’d like the memory of me to be a happy one, I’d like to leave an afterglow of smiles when the day is gone. I’d like to leave an echo whispering softly down the ways, Of happy times, laughing times, and bright and sunny days. I’d like the tears of those who grieve to dry before the sun, Of happy memories that I leave when life is done.