Thomas A. (Tom) Bartoszek, 89, of Perronville, died of a cardiac arrest at St. Francis Hospital on Jan. 15, 2010. He was born Nov. 3, 1920, in Keisterville, Penn., the son of Frank and Hedwig (Smiertka) Bartoszek. When Tom was three, his family bought the store, tavern and boarding house in Perronville, Mich., where he resided most of his life. He attended and kept the coal fire burning at the Perronville Grade School and graduated from Harris High School in 1939 as an honor student. He bought the family grocery store in 1940.
After Pearl Harbor was attacked at the onset of World War II, he enlisted and tested into the Army Air Corps Cadet Program, subsequently entering the flying cadet program at Santa Ana Army Air Base in California. He completed basic, primary and advanced training in fighter aircraft. He graduated from Luke Field in Arizona in May of 1943 where he received his wings, commission and assignment. He was sent to pilot instructors school at Randolph Field in Texas and flight instrument school at College Station, also in Texas. He served as a flight instructor and contract school supervisor at various airfields in the Western Flying Training Command in California, most notably at the Rankin Flight Academy.
While in the service, Tom was befriended by the famous pioneer aviator "Tex" Rankin and sometimes served as his pilot. Tom made many coast-to-coast training flights in the United States. His last active duty assignment was at Minter Field in Bakersfield, California. He received an honorable discharge from active duty in 1945 and served as captain in the U.S. Air Force Reserves, assigned from Selfridge Air Base, until August of 1958. Tom never lost his love of flying, and maintained a Federal Aviation Pilot License for many years. He last flew an airplane in 2008 while in Florida.
Upon his discharge in 1945, he returned to his general store in Perronville. In 1950, he was appointed U.S. postmaster in Perronville. He remained in the grocery business for 40 years, as a Red Owl Agency associate and later a Northland Food Store associate. He twice lost his business to fire (1951 and 1981) and rebuilt it both times. He became a dealer in Homelite and Jonsered chain saws and a buyer of forest products for Sawyer and Stoll Timber Company.
After the war, he was active as a player and promoter of the Tri-County Baseball League. He also enjoyed trout fishing, spending time at his cabin, and golfing with his friends. He shot two holes-in-one, one at the Highland Golf Club in Michigan and another in Port Charlotte, Fla.
In October of 1949, Tom married Doreen Good. They were married for 60 years. He was a member of St. Michael's Church in Perronville and later at the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church in Bark River, the American Tree Farm Association, the Bark River Lions Club (life member) and the American Legion Post 438. He served on the Board of Directors of the Bishop Noa Home and the Bark River State Bank.
Tom loved his community, the beauty of nature and his family. He is survived by his wife Doreen and four daughters, Janet (Jeff Usow) Bartoszek of Chicago, Ill., Lynn Bartoszek of Port Charlotte, Fla., Beth Bartoszek of Madison, Wis., and Joan Feather of Bay Village, Ohio; three grandchildren, Katherine and Hillary Feather and Sophia Usow; one brother, Anthony Bartoszek of Overland Park, Kan.; and, two sisters, Sophie Shiverski of St. Clair, Mich., and Helen Horton of Sun City, Ariz. He is also survived by 52 nieces and nephews. Tom was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Hedwig Bartoszek; four brothers, John, Joseph, Francis and Florian Bartoszek; and two sisters, Mary Kolodz and Mildred Yagodzinski.
Visitation will be held from 3 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 19, at the Anderson Funeral Home in Escanaba. Bark River American Legion services will be conducted at 5 p.m. Tuesday at the Anderson Funeral Home. Liturgical prayers will be recited at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the Anderson Funeral Home Chapel.
Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 20, at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church in Bark River with Father Mark McQuesten officiating.
A luncheon will follow in the church fellowship hall. Burial will take place in the Perronville Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the Thomas A. Bartoszek Memorial Scholarship Fund to be established at Bark River-Harris High School. The Anderson Funeral Home is assisting the Bartoszek family and online condolences can be sent to the family at www.andersonfuneralhomes.net
