George Wojtewicz

George Wojtewicz, 88, of Burtchville Township, passed away peacefully in his home on Wednesday, February 5, 2025.

He was born in the small Polish village of Maliszevo near Lipno, on January 6, 1937. The son of Kasimer and Apolonia Wojtewicz, George's early life was marked by hardship. At just one year old, he was separated from his father, who moved to Detroit, Michigan for work to make a better life for the family. During World War II when George was only 6, his mother, a resistance leader fighting against the German occupation of Poland, was tragically taken by the Nazis, along with his sister. Afterward, George and his older brother were raised by relatives until 1947, when the two made the journey across the Atlantic to join their father in America aboard the SS Ernie Pyle.

At 17, George enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps, and completed his high school diploma while in the service. His military journey took him to Japan, but he later returned to the U.S., where he began work with Ford Motor Company. A skilled toolmaker, George spent the majority of his career at the Livonia Transmission Plant. He eventually advanced to the position of maintenance supervisor before retiring at the age of 50 after 31 years of dedicated service.

Even after retirement, George continued to explore new opportunities, from working in a machine shop to laying asphalt. His passion for sharing his knowledge led him to a position at the Ford Apprentice Training Center, where he traveled nationwide to train and test apprentices, imparting his expertise to the next generation of tradespeople. Upon relocating to Burtchville, George briefly retired again, only to return to work locally as the bridge tender for the 10th Street Bridge in Port Huron. He had recently completed his season on October 31, 2024, and was eagerly anticipating his return in May 2025.

Over the past two decades, George, a.k.a. ‘Dza Dza’ (short for dziadek, which means grandpa in Polish) cherished his time with his younger grandchildren. He loved taking them to their various tennis and hockey events and showing them his love through small but meaningful gestures, like being their “unpaid Uber” driver for McDonald’s runs or trips to Home Depot. Though stern at times, George’s devotion as a father and grandfather was unmatched, and in these later years he made sure to make up for lost time with his family after years of hard work.

George is survived by his son, Greg (Andrea) Wojtewicz; daughter, Reggie (Todd) Goldman; his beloved grandchildren, Rick Tomlin, Jeremy (Brittany) Tomlin, Danielle Wojtewicz, Gregory Wojtewicz, Benjamin Goldman and Grace Goldman; great-grandchildren, Ricky Tomlin, Randy Tomlin, Jace Tomlin, Brady Tomlin and Bailey Tomlin; his ex-wife, Patricia Wojtewicz; niece, Carol Sliva; great nephews, Christopher (Chrissy) Wojtewicz, Jonathan (Sabrina) Wojtewicz and Slawek Wojtewicz; great nieces, Desiree (John) Litton and Beatrice (Mariusz) Mastalerz; and many great-great nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Kasimer and Apolonia Wojtewicz; his son, Thomas Wojtewicz; his brother, Kazimierz Wojtewicz; his sister, Regina Wojtewicz; and his nephews; Edward Wojtewicz and Stanislaw Wojtewicz.

A memorial service will be held at 12 noon on Saturday, March 8, 2025 in Karrer-Simpson Funeral Home with visitation beginning at 10:00 a.m. Shaun Laurain will officiate. Military honors will be conducted under the auspices of the U.S. Marine Corps and the St. Clair County Allied Veterans Honor Guard.

Memorial contributions may be made to Wounded Warrior Project. To send condolences, visit karrersimpson.com

Throughout his life, George touched the hearts of many, and his legacy of hard work, love, and commitment will forever be remembered. George is now at peace, embarking on his next adventure, and he will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him