Ervin Enoch Grifka

Ervin (“Erv”) Enoch Grifka was born on January 3, 1936, to Mike and Agnes Grifka in Ubly, Michigan. After several months of declining health, Erv passed away peacefully on June 12, 2022 at the age of 86. Erv was blessed to be surrounded by his immediate and extended family when he passed. Erv was the fourth child of ten and the second boy of five. Erv’s father, Mike Grifka, owned one of the largest dairy farms in Tuscola County, Michigan. Erv attended Ubly High School where he was very popular and outgoing. In fact, he was one of the high school’s cheerleaders, a memory his friends and family often liked to remind him of fondly. Erv’s nickname in high school was “Duck”, the origin of which is the source of local legend in Ubly. The general consensus is that it had something to do with the way he walked. Erv was not cut out for farm life, so shortly after high school he moved to the city. There, he enrolled in business school where he met his future wife, Josephine Sabatine and were married on April 27, 1957. They had three children, Fred, Andy and Melanie. Although Erv and Josephine’s marriage did not last, they had an enduring friendship that lasted until Josephine passed away in May 2013. After business school, Erv went to work in the life insurance business. He worked for Macabees Mutual and then Alexander Hamilton. In 1980, he moved to Dallas, Texas where he worked for Coca-Cola. It was there he met his life partner, George Bynum. Erv and George were together for 12 years before George’s untimely death in 1994. Erv was extremely proud of his marathon walking while in Texas and won numerous awards. In 1999, Erv moved back to Michigan to be with his family which had now grown to include two grandchildren, Tayler and Troy. Erv adored his grandchildren and vice versa. Erv was an avid bowler with a capital “A”. Even after he turned 80, he was bowling on two leagues per week and his average was over 180. Unfortunately, this stopped when the pandemic hit and the bowling alleys closed. Erv’s work ethic was second to none as well. Again, even into his 80’s, he was working almost full time at Joyview Meat Market until the pandemic closed all stores. Erv’s philosophy in life was simple. He would often tell his children: “Don’t worry about what the other guy is doing, just worry about yourself.” Ervin was preceded in death by his life partner, George Bynum, both parents, Mike and Agnes Grifka, his sisters, Lillian (the late Bob) Krug, Bernadine (the late Bob) Jansen and Gloria Schelke, his brother, Jerry (the late Marie) Grifka, his beloved daughter in law, Nancy Grifka, and his faithful companion and pet, Joey. Ervin is survived by his three children, Fred (the late Nancy) Grifka, Andy (Don) Fletcher-Grifka and Melanie (Travis) Brown and his grandchildren, Tayler (Nabeel Vira) Grifka-Brown and Troy Grifka-Brown. Ervin was blessed to have an extended family as well. He will be dearly missed by his step granddaughters, Susan (Orrin) Beane, Terri (Ron) Squires and his step great granddaughter, Jessica Beane and his step great-great grandchildren, Mia and Vincent Beane. Finally, Ervin is survived by his siblings, Henry (the late Bertha) Grifka, Mike (Helen) Grifka, Bill (the late Sandy) Grifka, Stasia (the late Marvin) Fisher and Linda (Bob) Tate and numerous nieces, nephews and friends. A Memorial will be held on Saturday, June 18th from 12–4 PM at Vermeulen-Sajewski Funeral Home, 980 N. Newburgh Road (between Ford Road and Cherry Hill) in Westland. There will be a pause for a short Funeral Service at 2:30 PM. The family will receive guests following the visitation for a dinner honoring Erv’s life at a location to be determined and announced by the family. To know Erv is to know that he loved animals. Therefore, in lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests donations be made to your local animal shelter or the Michigan Humane Society in Erv’s name. To share a memory, please use the Share a Memory tab on this web page.

Ervin Enoch Grifka

January 3, 1936 - June 12, 2022