Obituary for Patrick Stanley Siuda
Patrick Stanley Siuda, 76, of Mt. Pleasant crossed over to be with his Lord and Savior on March 29, 2023, after a valiant battle with ALS complicated by COVID.
Patrick was born on May 24, 1946, to Stanley S. and Rita C. (Marquardt) Siuda in Manistee, Michigan. He went to parochial schools for Grades 1-12 and was a member of the first graduating class of Manistee Catholic Central in 1964. He remained close with his classmates and treasured their friendship.
Pat served his country in the U.S. Army at Fort Hood, Texas, from 1966 to 1968, as a medic, attaining the rank of Specialist 5.
In September 1968, he joined the Michigan State Police as a trooper, retiring in 1993 after 25 years. He served at the West Branch, Detroit Freeway and Mt. Pleasant posts. He was very proud to have been a member of a very elite department, leaving with many fond memories and a lifelong brotherhood with his fellow troops.
He was an involved member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Mt. Pleasant for more than 40 years, regularly serving as an usher, and especially enjoyed his decades of working the legendary Lenten fish fries as a beverage specialist. He was also a member of the West Branch Knights of Columbus Council 2022 since 1970 and served on the Deerfield Township Zoning Board of Appeals for many years.
When moving his family to Mt. Pleasant in 1980, he found his life’s dream. The 5-acre hobby farm became his home for 43 years. It was a “Cat, Cattle and Chicken” operation. Eggs from River Road were hand delivered across six counties for 30 years to customers who became friends. When his daughters, Michele and Melanie, joined 4-H, lambs were brought into the menagerie. Both girls had grand champion lambs at the Isabella County Fair. Pat was very involved in the 4-H and Isabella County Fair programs and also helped coach his daughters’ softball teams.
Pat had many jobs throughout his life. He always wanted to greet a new day early, and with a purpose, to make a better life for his family. Hard work steered him through life. He believed in “work hard, your day will come.” His jobs included picking cherries and helping out on the family dairy farm as a child, working construction, and being a state trooper, a truck driver and a farmer. He possessed a true servant’s heart and the job he loved the most was delivering Meals on Wheels for the Isabella County Commission on Aging. He delivered more than 37,000 meals, as well as comfort and conversation, over 12 years.
He traveled extensively and was very grateful for all the opportunities life had given him. He toured the United States on many bus tours, which he particularly liked. Some of his most memorable trips were to Alaska and Hawaii, as well as cruising the Caribbean. European tours and Viking River Cruises were also highlights. He also traveled to most of Canada. He looked forward to hunting trips for pheasant, duck, deer, caribou, bear and other creatures and many times he was successful. There are very few corners of Michigan he left unexplored.
Pat also enjoyed traveling the state to watch his grandchildren in their pursuits.
When not working on his farm, he was often found on his front porch or back patio “listening to the grass grow and watching the birds sing.”
Wherever the road took him -- and he loved taking the scenic route -- he was rockhounding. He lined his house and gardens with marbled and unique rocks, with a story to go with each one.
Pat is survived by his daughters Michele (Derek) Jacques of Lake Orion and her children, Griffin and Andrew Jacques, and Melanie (Kip) Knight of Elk Rapids and her children, Landen and Ava Knight.
His children and grandchildren were always offered encouragement, guidance and common sense – dad and grandpa’s version. Whether it was believed and accepted, no one knows.
His children especially remember his faith, his staunch work ethic and his storytelling. He had a way with words, details and dates.
Pat was the eldest of six siblings. He is survived by his brothers Tom Siuda and Mark (Ann) Siuda and sisters Carmen Luedke, Chris (George) Goodrich and Loretta (Bob) Spitzer, aunt, Lucy Knizacky, and many cousins, nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brothers-in-law Alan Helwig and Barry Luedke.
Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. on April 14 at Clark Family Funeral Chapel, 114 S. Bradley St., Mt. Pleasant. Members of the Knights of Columbus West Branch Council 2022 will lead a rosary service around 7 p.m.
The funeral will be at 10 a.m. on April 15 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 302 S. Kinney, Mt. Pleasant, with visitation starting at 9 a.m. A Michigan State Police Honor Guard will precede the mass. A luncheon will follow mass at Clark Funeral Home from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Burial with military honors will be at 4:30 p.m. on April 15 at Mt. Carmel Cemetery, corner of Maple Street and Merkey Road, in Manistee. Pat will be interred near the Rock, a custom-designed pudding stone.
Donations may be made in his memory to the Isabella County Commission on Aging or to Manistee Catholic Central School.
Patrick was born on May 24, 1946, to Stanley S. and Rita C. (Marquardt) Siuda in Manistee, Michigan. He went to parochial schools for Grades 1-12 and was a member of the first graduating class of Manistee Catholic Central in 1964. He remained close with his classmates and treasured their friendship.
Pat served his country in the U.S. Army at Fort Hood, Texas, from 1966 to 1968, as a medic, attaining the rank of Specialist 5.
In September 1968, he joined the Michigan State Police as a trooper, retiring in 1993 after 25 years. He served at the West Branch, Detroit Freeway and Mt. Pleasant posts. He was very proud to have been a member of a very elite department, leaving with many fond memories and a lifelong brotherhood with his fellow troops.
He was an involved member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Mt. Pleasant for more than 40 years, regularly serving as an usher, and especially enjoyed his decades of working the legendary Lenten fish fries as a beverage specialist. He was also a member of the West Branch Knights of Columbus Council 2022 since 1970 and served on the Deerfield Township Zoning Board of Appeals for many years.
When moving his family to Mt. Pleasant in 1980, he found his life’s dream. The 5-acre hobby farm became his home for 43 years. It was a “Cat, Cattle and Chicken” operation. Eggs from River Road were hand delivered across six counties for 30 years to customers who became friends. When his daughters, Michele and Melanie, joined 4-H, lambs were brought into the menagerie. Both girls had grand champion lambs at the Isabella County Fair. Pat was very involved in the 4-H and Isabella County Fair programs and also helped coach his daughters’ softball teams.
Pat had many jobs throughout his life. He always wanted to greet a new day early, and with a purpose, to make a better life for his family. Hard work steered him through life. He believed in “work hard, your day will come.” His jobs included picking cherries and helping out on the family dairy farm as a child, working construction, and being a state trooper, a truck driver and a farmer. He possessed a true servant’s heart and the job he loved the most was delivering Meals on Wheels for the Isabella County Commission on Aging. He delivered more than 37,000 meals, as well as comfort and conversation, over 12 years.
He traveled extensively and was very grateful for all the opportunities life had given him. He toured the United States on many bus tours, which he particularly liked. Some of his most memorable trips were to Alaska and Hawaii, as well as cruising the Caribbean. European tours and Viking River Cruises were also highlights. He also traveled to most of Canada. He looked forward to hunting trips for pheasant, duck, deer, caribou, bear and other creatures and many times he was successful. There are very few corners of Michigan he left unexplored.
Pat also enjoyed traveling the state to watch his grandchildren in their pursuits.
When not working on his farm, he was often found on his front porch or back patio “listening to the grass grow and watching the birds sing.”
Wherever the road took him -- and he loved taking the scenic route -- he was rockhounding. He lined his house and gardens with marbled and unique rocks, with a story to go with each one.
Pat is survived by his daughters Michele (Derek) Jacques of Lake Orion and her children, Griffin and Andrew Jacques, and Melanie (Kip) Knight of Elk Rapids and her children, Landen and Ava Knight.
His children and grandchildren were always offered encouragement, guidance and common sense – dad and grandpa’s version. Whether it was believed and accepted, no one knows.
His children especially remember his faith, his staunch work ethic and his storytelling. He had a way with words, details and dates.
Pat was the eldest of six siblings. He is survived by his brothers Tom Siuda and Mark (Ann) Siuda and sisters Carmen Luedke, Chris (George) Goodrich and Loretta (Bob) Spitzer, aunt, Lucy Knizacky, and many cousins, nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brothers-in-law Alan Helwig and Barry Luedke.
Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. on April 14 at Clark Family Funeral Chapel, 114 S. Bradley St., Mt. Pleasant. Members of the Knights of Columbus West Branch Council 2022 will lead a rosary service around 7 p.m.
The funeral will be at 10 a.m. on April 15 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 302 S. Kinney, Mt. Pleasant, with visitation starting at 9 a.m. A Michigan State Police Honor Guard will precede the mass. A luncheon will follow mass at Clark Funeral Home from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Burial with military honors will be at 4:30 p.m. on April 15 at Mt. Carmel Cemetery, corner of Maple Street and Merkey Road, in Manistee. Pat will be interred near the Rock, a custom-designed pudding stone.
Donations may be made in his memory to the Isabella County Commission on Aging or to Manistee Catholic Central School.