Lawrence James Balash

Lawrence James Balash, age 89 of Shelby Township, Michigan passed away peacefully at home on October 4, 2025 in the presence of his daughter after a short illness. He was born November 28, 1935, and was a devoted husband, father and grandfather. Larry married the love of his life, Nancy, in 1965. Theirs was a true love story that spanned more than 56 years, until Nancy's passing in 2021. Larry was a devoted father to Katie (Michael) Novak and the late Andrew Balash. He is preceded in death by his brother Ronald. Larry was a chemist, an inventor, and an entrepreneur. He and Nancy founded Vaughan Chemical Company (to become Vaughan Industries, Inc.) in 1974. He was not only a past President of the Midwest Carwash Association, but he was also an inductee to the MCA Hall of Fame. A man of many passions, he especially loved fishing, woodworking, raising tropical fish, model building, and Lionel Trains. He volunteered for both the Michigan Woodworkers Association and the Midwest Fly Fishing Association. He was an expert marksman who loved to shoot and taught firearm safety but was adamantly never a hunter. Many of the things that gave him the greatest joy were quiet and reflective, which masked the size of his heart. He could have a rough exterior, but it's what protected his gentle soul. He cherished Nancy and cared for her at home through many years of illness. Still waters run deep, and that was especially true for Larry. He wasn't always great at expressing his emotions, but they ran as strong and as deep as the currents of his beloved Au Sable River. He loved the cabin that he and Nancy spent many years building on the bank of the Au Sable. He treasured spending quiet time with his family Up North and enjoyed watching the wildlife from his window. He loved all animals. He could watch the deer and the birds for hours. He enticed the squirrels and the chipmunks to join him on the porch. It was his personal mission to keep the feeders on his porch always filled. The chipmunks would eat from his hand, and the local racoon would stare in the back door at night waiting for his treat. He adored his new companion, Buddy the cat, for the last year of his life. Buddy misses him greatly. And the thing that Larry really, really loved? Ice Cream. Didn't matter the flavor, didn't matter the form. There will be an ice cream truck in the parking lot of Wujek-Calcaterra on Friday October 10th from 3:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. in his honor. Stop by for a cone. Or a Bar. Or a Popsicle. Doesn't matter. He would just like you to enjoy some ice cream as much as he did. Visitation Friday from 3-8pm at Wujek - Calcaterra & Sons Inc., (Shelby Township), 54880 Van Dyke at 25 Mile Rd. Funeral Saturday Instate from 9:30am until time of 10am Mass at St. Irenaeus, 771 Old Perch Rd, Rochester Hills, MI 48309. Please share memories with the family at their online guestbook at WujekCalcaterra.com

Lawrence James Balash

November 28, 1935 - October 4, 2025