Joseph J. Mysliwiec

Link for Livestream here Joseph John Mysliwiec also known as Jay, JJ or Jaybird was from Nagold Street, the "West Side." He was the son of William and Josephine who immigrated to Grand Rapids from Poland. He attended St. Adalbert's School and after school worked at his dad's meat market along with his brothers and sister. He would say that his older brother Dick had the looks, his sister Pat had the brains and he...had the determination to "make it." He attended Catholic Central, class of 1956, and played on the Varsity baseball team. Jay served for 7½ years in the Army Reserves. He went on to Aquinas College, class of 1960, paying for it by being a dance instructor at Arthur Murray in downtown Grand Rapids. Two of his favorite things were his Aquinas College cap and his red "You bet your Dupa I'm Polish" t-shirt. Jay made his family proud as he climbed the ranks of Ethicon, a subsidiary of Johnson and Johnson, from salesman to marketing director of Latin America, leaving Grand Rapids for Chicago, then Miami, New Jersey and eventually, Caracas. He loved to converse with people and could strike up a conversation with just about anyone. He loved Mary, his wife of 56 years, until her death last year. Jay loved dancing, especially the polka and especially with Mary, and fondly remembered the "good ole days" of dancing at the Polish Hall where they had their first date. He also loved to fish, especially early mornings on Lake Montcalm with Jack, Mary's father and later with his son, Matt. Like his father he had a lifelong passion for learning and like his mother loved listening to beautiful music. After he retired, he became a eucharistic minister and enjoyed visiting the sick at the local hospital in NJ. He and Mary moved back to Grand Rapids after many years in north NJ and attended daily mass at St. Robert's in Ada, where he loved saying the Divine Mercy Chaplet with his friends. May you rest in peace, Dad. Surviving are his children, Molly, Matt (Sarah); granddaughter, Maggie; sister, Pat Dawson; the O’Donovan family; many nieces and nephews. Mass of Christian Burial will be held 11 am Tuesday, Nov. 2 at St. Robert's Catholic Church in Ada with visitation at 10 am. Rev. Tony Russo, Celebrant. Interment Woodlawn Cemetery. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Mysliwiec-O’Donovan Teacher Scholarship Fund at Aquinas College 1700 E. Fulton Grand Rapids, MI 49506. Arrangements by Bliss-Witters & Pike Funeral Home Cedar Springs, MI.