Casimir A. " Cass" Lacki

Cass Lacki was a living product of an American dream that his parents must have had for all their children. He was a first generation immigrant who took full advantage of all the opportunities that his parent’s immigration to this country provided. His father, Michael Lacki, emigrated from Poland to America and later sent for his future wife, Josephine. They were married in this country and settled in Detroit, MI. During midlife they became naturalized citizens of the country they called home. Brought up as a Catholic, Casimir, the youngest child in his family of five, attended St. Andrews Grade school in Detroit, Mi. He graduated from St. Andrews at the age of 14 in 1941. As a young boy, Cass was an altar boy where he found that learning Latin actually aided his ability to read Polish, as he was bilingual. His religion remained a guiding light throughout his life. He was a parishioner for over 39 years at St. John Neumann parish, Canton, Mi. His next set of educational experiences would set the stage for his entire employment at Ford Motor Company. He retired from the Casting Division Dearborn after 40 years of ‘devoted service’ in 1989. He entered Chadsey High School in 1941 and graduated in 1945 while attending Henry Ford Trade School located at Ford Motor Company Rouge Dearborn. Henry Ford Trade school would literally open doors to his future career. Cass developed an early interest in drafting as he watched his brother, in their parent’s basement, complete his homework. In later years, he would spend many hours with his brother, Steve, golfing and bowling. Their close relationship lasted a lifetime. And he always enjoyed playing baseball and swimming throughout this part of his youth. But first the year was 1945 and this 18 year old was drafted and completed basic training in combat engineering in Virginia. From there he was assigned to transportation, as a personal affairs consultant, aboard an ocean liner. He completed five trips from New York, New York to South Hampton, England and onto LeHarve, France and then to Bremerhaven, Germany prior to returning to USA escorting war brides. Cass received an honorable discharge from the army in 1947. He, like many of his generation, utilized the G.I Bill to further his academic aspirations. The University of Detroit became his alma mater where he earned 44 credits pursing a degree in mechanical engineering by 1949. In the end, Cass would not receive his bachelor’s degree until 1968 after 8 long year of night school that he completed while supporting his family of five and working full time at Ford. With no additional personal funds and the GI Bill funding ending for Cass, he turned back to his roots at Henry Ford Trade School. So, in 1949 Cass was hired by the Ford Motor Company and worked on production line at the Motor building in Dearborn, Mi. After a two year courtship with Helen F. Lacki, and after attending a series of novenas that helped them to decide, the young couple married at St. Andrews church in Detroit, MI, on May 20, 1950. Cass and Helen started their married lives first living with Adam and Frances Gill, her parents. By 1951, they had moved to Michael and Josephine Lacki’s home in Detroit and were expecting their first child. As both the youngest children in two families, starting their own family was exciting for the grandparents. As fate would have it, the Henry Ford Trade school would provide the entrée to an apprenticeship as a wood pattern maker. “Phil S.”, one of his conscientious bosses, determined that Cass should not be on the ‘line’ and should be applying for an apprenticeship because of his trade school experience. Apparently, a case was made that supported Cass’s acceptance into the program. At some point, after his eldest child was born, Cass won an award in a pattern making contest and his picture appeared in a local newspaper. Beside his typical work day, he was also required to complete after work classes. The reward that eventually led to life time employment and a secure future for his wife and children was a journeyman card as a wood pattern maker. And with that he began his very successful future at Ford Motor Company. To commemorate this achievement, another journeyman in the pattern shop would construct, with exquisite detail, a tool box to be used by new journeyman. Cass used his gifted tool box until his career took other turn. Now his eldest son Greg, a constructor supervisor in his own right, has the cherished tool box from his father. Sometime last year, Cathy Lacki discovered that Cass had actually kept a small picture of Linda, Gregory and Cathy in his tool box. That very picture had remained in place for over 60 some years. Five years later, 1959, Cass transferred from hourly employee as a wood patternmaker to a salaried position in experimental tooling. He moved into leader and supervisor roles over the next few years as he started back to the University of Detroit in 1960 to finally finish his degree in mechanical engineering in 1968. He even made time, with everything else going on, to assist his children with anything from basic math through 4th year high school math. He felt strongly that he could accomplish his goals at work only because his wife Helen worked so hard to accomplish the goals of working within their home and caring for their five children. Through the late 70s he was reassigned to Michigan Casting Division, returned to the Casting Division staff and was promoted as a manufacturing engineer and a manager in the Casting Division. In 1989 Cass retired from Ford, from a career that took him around the globe. He spent time on four continents, was involved with a Ford racing program and new and revolutionary aluminum casting. He completed statistical programs and 6 Sigma Quality and had a chance to experience the great change that was coming to the automotive industry. He remained engaged in his industry long past retirement through his participation in the Detroit Chapter of American Foundrymen’s Society (AFS) and SAE International where his membership lasted more than 40 years. And he continued to enjoy his time playing golf and bowling, which were lifelong passions. He played with his eldest son, his brother and friends. He had a number of years to enjoy the fruits of his very strong work ethic, which he imparted to all of his children. During the time period from the 50s on, he and his wife added five children to their family: Linda, Gregory, Cathy, Brian and Chris. He was also blessed with Gregory and Margaret’s children, his three grandchildren: Matthew, Caitlin and Paul. In this next generation, his college educated grandchildren would successfully forge their own careers and travel the world. The ‘Time Changes’, both cultural and religious, that Cass and Helen experienced as a couple were immense. And their faith was tested as two of children preceded Cass in death in 1987 and 2011. (Chris and Brian respectively) Cass was also preceded in death by his parents Michael and Josephine Lacki and his siblings Charlotte, Esther, Steve, Lilian and their spouses. In his last years, primarily after 85, Cass experienced the often predictable path of increased disabilities that altered his life style and left him homebound. He spent more than one year in the hospital or skilled nursing attempting to resolve a set of trying chronic conditions. He never complained about his fate but only was concerned that his wife had to spend so much of her time caring for him. He never failed to tell his adult children how much he loved and respected his wife and that he had fallen in love with Helen at ‘first sight’. And he always appreciated a group of their friends that visited him, prayed with him and brought the Eucharist. Claudia, Mary Kay, Elizabeth and other participants of the Rosary group brightened both of the couple’s days. Cass and Helen were also blessed with very special neighbors, Spyros and Helen, who made and shared the best dolma, baked bread and the stories of their lives. Happily, after his last stay in the hospital and then in skilled nursing, he was able to spend the last four months of his life at home with his dear wife, Helen. They stayed together during this time until the last moment of his death. Helen never left his side. According to his nurse, at St Mary Mercy Hospital, he was able to communicate and ‘razz’ his nurse until the last half hour before his death. His final moments in this world were spent with his wife praying at his bedside. His death was in the end, quick and shocking. He was clear with his family that he was tired and he had good reason to be. One of the last, most poignant things he said prior to his death, perhaps summing up an important part of his life, as though he was answering an unasked question, was “we always loved our children”. Cass Lacki “need not be idealized, or enlarged in death beyond what he was in life, to be remembered simply as a good and decent man” (R. Kennedy eulogy quote) and to add to that quote, who greatly loved his wife and his family. ************************************************************************************ Casimir A. Lacki, “Cass”, age 88, of Canton, MI, died on May 18, 2016 at St. Mary Mercy Hospital, Livonia, MI. Beloved and absolutely devoted husband of Helen F. Lacki, for almost 66 years. Dear, dear father of Linda E. Lacki (Jack Freeman), Gregory A. Lacki (Margaret C.), Cathy F. Lacki, the late Brian J. Lacki and Chris D. Lacki. Proud grandfather of Matthew T. Lacki (Cori), Caitlin A. Lacki (Ken) and Paul A. Lacki. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews. The Funeral Mass will be on Thursday, May 26, 2016 at 11:00 AM at Resurrection Church, 48755 Warren Rd, Canton, MI 48187. The Funeral Mass is to be officiated by Father Ron Richards of St. John Neumann parish, Canton, MI. The Lacki family will gather at Resurrection Church on Thursday from 10:30 AM until the Funeral Mass. Private interment of cremains at St. Hedwig Cemetery, Dearborn Heights, MI, will take place at a later date. Memorial Contributions may be made to Solanus Casey Center, 1780 Mount Elliott, Detroit, MI 48207. Complete obituary posted at www. Vermeulenfh.com/obituaries/.

Casimir A. " Cass" Lacki

May 31, 1927 - May 18, 2016