John W. Modjeski

John W. Modjeski, age 94 of Manistee, died peacefully at home surrounded by his children and family on Saturday, Aug. 5, 2023 after a long battle with cancer.

John, known to many as Jack, was born on July 28, 1929, in Mason County to the late John and Rose (Olk) Modjeski. He attended school in Mason County and as a teenager worked summers at Century Boat and P.C.A.

At the age of 18, John enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and began a career that spanned 20 years as a security police/military police officer. During his time in the service, he had many assignments that took him all over the world, including Japan, Korea, the Philippines, Germany, Hawaii, Alaska and many other U.S. states as well. John retired from the Air Force in 1967 at the rank of master sergeant and returned to Manistee.

After returning to Manistee, John joined the Manistee County Sheriff's Department in 1968 and began a second career in law enforcement that lasted for the next 22 years. Eventually retiring in 1990 at the rank of lieutenant and beginning a well-deserved retirement.

Throughout his life, John was an avid outdoorsman spending countless hours in the woods or on lakes and streams hunting and fishing with many of his friends and family. John also had a lifelong love of riding motorcycles, from riding old Harleys as part of his military police duties, to riding the backroads and trails of Manistee and Mason counties to touring all over the U.S. on his Goldwing.

John is survived by his children Michael and Julie Modjeski of Marysville, Washington, Michelle Modjeski of Shepherdsville, Kentucky, and Mark and Julie Modjeski of Manistee; two sisters and a brother-in-law, Gloria Pomeroy of Manistee and Judy and Dennis Moreau, Texas; his grandchildren Vincent Modjeski of Rockford, Emelia Modjeski of Huntersville, North Carolina, Alexandria Modjeski of Manistee, Kristina Modjeski of Everett, Washington, Michael Saunders of Louisville, Kentucky, and Mark Saunders of Pensacola, Florida. Numerous nieces and nephews also survive him.

He was preceded in death by his parents John and Rose (Olk) Modjeski; a sister and brother-in-law Dorothy and Clarence Rozell; his wife Karen (Espvik) Modjeski in 1998; his wife Arlene "Tudie" (Sorenson) Modjeski in 2016; and his ex-wife and mother of his children Annette Scott in 2022.

Cremation has taken place and a Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday Sept. 30, 2023 at 1 p.m. at Aki Maadiziwin Community Center located at 2953 Shaw Be Quo Ung in Manistee. The family will receive friends from 12 p.m. up until the Celebration of John's Life at 1 p.m.

Inurnment will take place at 1 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 2, 2023 at North Victory Cemetery in Victory Township, Michigan.

In lieu of flowers, those wishing to remember John are asked to consider a donation in his name, to Hospice of Michigan. Envelopes are available at the funeral home and will also be available at Aki Maadiziwin Community Center on Saturday morning.

The Herbert Funeral Home of Manistee is in charge of funeral arrangements.