Peter Ziemkowski

Visitation: Friday, May 24, 2019 from 2-4 and 6-8 PM at the funeral home.

Funeral Service: Saturday, May 25, 2019 at 11 AM at the funeral home with burial to follow at Lakeside Cemetery.

Peter J. Ziemkowski, age 92, of Colon, MI, formerly of Calumet City, IL, passed away Thursday, May 16, 2019 in Alexandria, LA.

Peter was born August 15, 1926, to the late Bertha R. (Kaczmarski) and late Peter J. Ziemkowski. Raised in Calumet City, IL by Bertha and her husband Theodore Zygmunt, he attended Thornton Fractional Township High, but left to join the U.S. Navy during World War II, where he was stationed as a fireman in San Juan, Puerto Rico. On Sept 18, 1954, he married the love of his life Helen C. Skrobot in Hammond, IN. Their marriage lasted 60 years until Helen’s death in 2014. Pete worked as a carman for the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad for 42 years, while he and Helen owned and operated Pete’s Tavern for several years in Calumet City, IL.

In 1993, he and Helen retired to their home on Long Lake in Colon, where they found a very active life in the community. Pete joined the Colon Lions Club, and could be found at White Cane events, or collecting tickets for the shows at the annual Magic Get-Together into his 90s. Pete also tended the bar at the Colon American Legion for several years. He has spent his last several winters in Louisiana with his daughter Linda and enjoyed new friendships and expanded family down there.

He is survived by his daughter, Linda (Thomas) Malo of Alexandria, LA; a son, Peter (Amanda) Ziemkowski of Portage, MI; three grandchildren, Nicole (Jesse) Futrell, Abigail Ziemkowski and Andrea Ziemkowski; one great-grandchild, Olivia Futrell; and one sister Norma Snowdon.
He was preceded in death by his wife Helen, and sister Dorothy (Bob) Drowns.

The family will receive relatives and friends from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. Friday, May 24, 2019 at Schipper Funeral Home in Colon. A service will take place at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 25, 2019, also at the Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Lakeside Cemetery in Colon. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be made in memory of Pete to either the Colon American Legion Post 454, or the Colon Lions Club.