Eric J Motyka

Eric John Motyka, 93, Columbus, passed away Friday, April 7, 2006. He was born December 20, 1912 in Philadelphia, PA. Eric married Frances Podsiadlo on August 22, 1936. They were married for 65 years before her unexpected death on May 18, 2002. Eric was a member of the Macomb Township Volunteer Fire Department in his youth. He worked and retired from Metro Beach, a place he loved. After retirement, Eric and Frances enjoyed traveling until they settled in Roscommon. There he kept busy with his home and garden projects. After his wife’s death, he moved to Columbus t o be close to his family. He was able to do that, especially with his great-grandchildren. Eric was a member of St. Philip Neri Church in Columbus Township. He was a very active person up until a year ago. He enjoyed gardening, cooking for himself and bird watching. Eric is survived by his daughters, Shirley (Dean) Barnett of Columbus, Lorraine (Jerry) Hellner of Kenockee, and Carol Droz of North Dakota; also surviving are his 16 grandchildren, John (Lynn) Surprenant, David (Diane) Surprenant, Anne (Dean) Howard, Elizabeth (Keith) Merritt, Theresa (Tom) Geck, Steven Surprenant, Christine (Michael) Carnagie, Kathy (Jeff) Carnagie, Cheryl (Greg) Smolarek, Denise (Ray) Pechman, Eric Droz, Angela (Joe) Homic, Gwendoline (Grant) Poyner, Karen (Sean) Corrigan, Nanette (Mike) Murphy, and Peter Droz. He also will be missed by his 30 great-grandchildren and his siblings, Isabell Ferinac, Mildred Bailey and Ernie Motyka. He is preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Casmeria Czyzewska Motyka, brothers Witold and Rudolph and sisters Amelia, Romualda and Aurelia and a granddaughter Frances Droz. Visitation to celebrate the long life Eric lived will be Monday 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., Tueday 2:00 to 8:00 p.m. ,rosary at 7:00 p.m., and Wednesday 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at Kaatz Funeral Directors, Richmond. Rite of Christian Burial will be 11:00 a.m. Wednesday at St. Phillips Neri Catholic Church, Columbus Township. Fr. Joseph Horn, pastor, will officiate. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to St. Philip Neri Catholic Church or Blue Water Hospice.

Eric J Motyka

December 20, 1912 - April 7, 2006