Jeno Bilicz

Jeno Bilicz, 88, passed away on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025, in St. Joseph.

A celebration of life will be at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 29, at at Starks & Menchinger Chapel, 2650 Niles Road, St. Joseph, MI, 49085 with Father Jack Pfeiffer presiding. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service, from 10-11 a.m. Memorial contributions in Jeno's memory may be directed to the American Heart Association.

Jeno was born on Sept. 18, 1937, in Sand, Hungary to Steven and Katherine (Gerencser) Bilicz. As a teenager, Jeno fled Hungary during the Hungarian Revolution and escaped to a refugee camp in Austria. There he met the love of his life, Anna Horvath, and the two were married on Nov. 22, 1957. Jeno and Anna stayed in Austria for a couple years until Jeno's aunt and uncle in Michigan, John and Helen Gerencser, offered to sponsor the young couple to become citizens of the United States. The two eventually made their way to Benton Harbor and have lived in the area ever since.

Jeno worked on farms and in factories, doing whatever he could to provide a better life for him, his wife, and their daughter, Elaine. In 1968, they bought their home in St. Joseph and continue to reside there to this day. Jeno and his cousin, Bill Gerencser, opened Mickey's Restaurant in St. Joseph and a little while later, Jeno and Anna opened Fireside Restaurant in Stevensville, which they owned and operated for 15 years.

Jeno was loved by everyone in the community, including his employees and customers. He was an incredibly devoted husband, father, grandfather, father-in-law and friend. Jeno was hardworking and a good man who always cared and provided for his family.

Jeno will always be remembered by his beloved wife, Anna; daughter, Elaine (Scott) Merrick; granddaughter, Marilyn; and extended cousins: Joanne (Ron) Klug, John (Linda) Gerencser, Steven (Elaine) Gerencser, Vicki (Bud) Williams, Jane (Bob) Edelberg, Nancy (Mario) Palminsano, Pam (Dan) Berry, Susan (Roger) Knafel, Kathy Tyson, Christina Schaller, Laurie (David) Parsons, Karen Willming, Beth Cipriano, Kenny Kaatz, Wayne Kaatz, Eileen Kaatz and Tara Rice.

He was preceded in death by his parents; siblings: Steven, Joseph, Kalman, Magda and Nondor; and several extended family members in Hungary and the U.S.