Michael Curzenski

Michael Curzenski gained his angel wings on April 13, 2020, at the age of 61. Michael is survived by his wife, Julie, of almost 34 years, and daughter Amy. He is also survived by his siblings Gary (Betty) and Christine, as well as many nieces, nephews, and cousins. He is preceded in death by his parents, John and Josephine Curzenski. Michael Curzenski, or to those who knew him best, simply “Mike,” was born on July 19, 1958, in Detroit, Michigan. Mike spent his childhood playing baseball, fishing, hunting and just being a typical boy. He became an Eagle Scout at the young age of 14 and enjoyed many camping trips with the Boy Scouts. He always had a smile on his face when he would talk about his childhood. Some of his most favorite times and memories were of the times he spent on his grandparent’s dairy farm in Cheboygan, MI. From helping to milk cows, to stacking hay bales, to picking fresh sweet corn, he loved it all and would talk endlessly about the great times Up North and the great people that lived there. Mike graduated high school in 1976 and went on to complete a few years of college at Lawrence Tech. Although he never graduated, he went on to have a great career as a draftsman, and then a computer-aided draftsman. From the stories that were told of some of the things that happened at work, it is amazing that any work ever got done. That was one thing about Mike, he always had fun no matter the circumstances. On June 14, 1986, Mike married the love of his life, Julie, in a fairy-tale ending to their love story that began in 1982 when Mike and Julie stood up in a wedding together, where he caught the garter and she caught the bouquet. Some things are just meant to be. They made their home in Clinton Twp., where they welcomed their only child, Amy, in August of 1990. They moved to Chesterfield in 1992, where they would make countless memories together as a family and where Mike would spend the rest of his days until his passing. To those who knew Mike best, you know his life-long love of anything outdoors, especially fishing, hunting, and golfing. Mike was always happiest outside and being active. Whether it was ice fishing, fishing from a boat, fishing from a dock, the bank, or wading in a river he loved it all and caught more fish than anyone could ever count. He fished in many fishing tournaments over the years and collected many trophies through the years. Come October, his adventures turned from the water to the woods, where he enjoyed countless years of hunting whitetail deer with his brother, nephews, cousins, and friends. He was lucky enough to take several hunting trips out west, where the stories ranged from believable to unbelievable. Anyone that ever spent any significant amount of time talking to Mike most likely heard a fish and deer story, or two. On most days, Mike could be found wearing his favorite attire: camouflage and a baseball hat. When Mike wasn’t hunting or fishing, he could be found spending warm summer days on the golf course. Although he loved fishing and hunting so much, there is something he loved even more: his family. Mike was always happiest when spending time with his family, especially times spent on Lake St. Clair on the family boat. Mike could not have been prouder of his daughter, from the moment she was born, and he exclaimed, “It’s a girl”, to the moment she received her master’s degree and to everything she achieved in between. He was a true family man, and the kind of dad that any child would love to have. The special moments, endless memories and strong bond they formed together will help carry his family through. Mike took his family on countless vacations, from Maine, to Texas, to Florida, to South Dakota, and so many other places and drove countless miles through the years. He could even be found attending several Taylor Swift concerts with Amy. That shows not only the kind of father he was, but the type of man he was also: anything to make those he loved most happy. To everyone that met Mike, he left an impression on them on how to be kind, fun-loving, hard-working, and how to live the most fulfilling life possible. There wasn’t a person Mike met that didn’t become a friend to him. He may have only been 61, but he did more living in that short time than most people would do in several lifetimes. At the young age of 58, he received his lung cancer diagnosis. Through the devastating news and the 3.5-year battle that followed, Mike handled it all with grace, admiration, dignity, and more strength than most people could manage. He never complained and took the cards he had been dealt and made the most of it. Mike would always say that he wanted to help pave the way for future cancer patients, as those that came before him had done. He was able to continue hunting, fishing, and golfing right to the end. Life is too often defined by the years engraved in a gravestone. However, the dash in between those two years is where all the living and stories are held and in Mike’s 61 years, there are more stories and love held in that one small dash than could ever be shared. Hold on to the memories, they will hold on to you, during good times and bad. Mike will be laid to rest at Resurrection Cemetery in Clinton Twp., MI in a private burial on Thursday, April 16th. There will be a Celebration of Life Memorial held in the future for all his family and friends to attend once the world environment allows. To anyone who is reading this, Mike would be honored that you take the time to attend his memorial. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the family to help cover expenses and to be used as the family’s wishes.

Michael Curzenski

July 19, 1958 - April 13, 2020