Robert Dziatczak

April 27, 1942 - October 15, 2026 Robert “Bob” Dziatczak, 84, of East Lansing, MI passed away Thursday, October 15, 2026 at Sparrow Hospital in Lansing, MI. Robert was born in Detroit, Michigan on April 27, 1942, the younger son of the late Frank Dziatczak and Helen (Swiderski) Dziatczak. Beloved husband of the late M. Rebecca "Becky” for 51 years. Loving father of Mark (Lisa) Dziatczak, Jennifer Pater, and Katherine “Katy” (Matthew) Larson. Proud and loving Pop-Pops and Grandpa Bob of Alaina, Anthony, Avery, Aiden, Logan and London. Dear brother of Gerald Francis Dziatczak (dec.), uncle of Michael (Diane) Dziatczak, Susan McLalin, Patricia Stachnik, Steven (Hanh) Dziatczak, and Kem (Mark) Meyer, great-uncle of Erin, Emmi, Easton, Robert (Alexis), Taylor (Bradley), Matthew, Megan, Andrew (Kayla), Danielle and Benjamin, and great-great uncle of Cash, Lucinda and Jax. Also survived by his dear family friends the Brownlees (Keith, Sheila, Bree, and Kim). Visitation Tuesday, October 20, 2026 3-9pm at Wujek-Calcaterra & Sons, Inc., 54880 Van Dyke (at 25 Mile Rd.), Shelby Twp. Instate Wednesday, October 21, 2026 11:30am until time of 12pm Mass at St. Isidore Catholic Church, 18201 23 Mile Rd. (at Romeo Plank), Macomb Twp. Inurnment, Great Lakes National Cemetery, Holly at a later date. Please share memories with the family at their "On-Line Guestbook" at WujekCalcaterra.com. Bob’s proud roots began in Detroit, Michigan where his family settled in the United States after his parents’ generation emigrated from Poland. Bob and Gerry’s father Frank passed away tragically in 1953. The Swiderski family rallied to support Helen, Bob and Gerry, which inspired his famous “Power of the Family” mantra. After a rebellious teenage phase as an amateur drag racer, Bob enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1962. There, Bob proudly served his country as a surgical technician stationed in England, France, and Libya while making lifelong friends and meeting the love of his life, his wife Becky. The pair met on Christmas Eve 1965, when Becky invited Bob to spend Christmas with her family. They were married on September 9, 1966, at St. Bartholomew Catholic Church in Detroit, MI. After marrying, Bob and Becky made a home in Sterling Heights, MI in 1973, its location chosen specifically for the quality public schools. Bob and Becky raised a family there as Mark, Jenny, and Katy attended school, played sports, and enrolled in activities with Bob often serving as a volunteer, leader, or coach, specializing in t-ball and flag football. Bob was also a proud athletic booster for Henry Ford II High School athletics. Professionally, Bob supported his family with a penchant for hard work. Starting as a laborer at Cooke Contracting, he moved on as a die maker at GM Plant 37, and then his brother Gerry encouraged him to apply for a position at Michigan Bell that transitioned from a job to a career. Bob’s talents with technical expertise and customer relations skills were leveraged for larger and larger telecommunications installations as Bell systems changed over time to become American Bell, AT&T, Lucent, and Avaya. After retiring from Bell companies with 38 years of service, Bob continued with NACR for 5 more years when he put down the call lists and product sheets to invest in his family, most notably caring for his wife Becky, his biggest priority in life. Bob and Becky were faithfully married for 51 years before she passed away in 2017. Their favorite activities were watching CBS Sunday Morning, reading the newspaper to each other, and holding hands. Before he passed, Bob stated about Becky, “I was so proud of her and what she did for me and my family. She was a great mother and welcomed all into our clan.” Bob and Becky shared a marriage that was special and enduring. Bob loved learning, all sports, travel, genealogy, demolition derby, classic cars, Michigan history, science, and community. Michigan State athletics, the Detroit Lions, Auto City and Spartan Speedways, Ancestry.com, National Geographic, the Detroit Free Press, old movies, and classic American cars were at the top of his interest lists. At Trivial Pursuit matches, Bob played his role as all-time quarterback perfectly for any team needing assistance from the Polish oracle known to the family as the “White Shadow.” Bob loved traveling with his family as much as he could including trips to Texas, Florida, Canada, The Rose Bowl, Alaska, and Yellowstone National Park, and Memphis, Tennessee. His favorite location of all was Ocean City, MD, which provided family fun and sunshine with plenty of stops both to and from the beach destination to take in places like Pittsburgh, Fallingwater, Gettysburg, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., Antietam, and Bedford Falls. Before the roar needed to be restored in the Motor City, Bob and Becky were Detroit Lions season ticket holders from 1967 to 1972. They are both still waiting for the next championship. After Becky’s death, Bob moved in with his daughter Katy and son-in-law Matt and their two children. There he gardened in the backyard, volunteered as a docent at the Lansing Potter Park Zoo, and served as self-appointed Social Director for the “Meridian Township Over 50 Exercise Group.” Bob made sure to attend as many of his grandchildren’s sporting events, recitals, and music performances as he possibly could. He was such a loud and enthusiastic supporter, he often had to be shushed. Bob continued to closely follow high school, college, and professional football, while advancing his civic interests by volunteering at the nearest East Lansing voter polling station. Bob ardently supported humanistic causes that promoted inclusion, equality, and basic human rights. Bob always voted and never failed to thank a fellow veteran for their service to the United States of America. Most importantly, Bob loved his family. Drawing on his experiences as a child, Bob believed support from and for family could ascend mountains, cross bridges, and uplift the spirit. He took great pride in the activities of Mark, Jenny, and Katy, along with everyone else in the Dziatczak family including grandkids, nephews, nieces, extended family, and special friends. To Bob, the power of the family reigned over all. Consequently, extended family and friends were considered his very own. Bob even decided to expand his family by accepting his son Mark’s invitation to become a brother of the Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity at 81 years old. To Bob, the ties of friendship and love were binding and afforded all with the secret to a happy and meaningful life. Bob invited us all to seize the power within our families. He will be greatly missed.