Stanley Pawlowski

Mr. Stanley Pawlowski, of Bay City, passed away Saturday morning, November 15, 2014 at Bayfield Assisted Living in Bay City, age 93. The son of the late William and Anna Pawlowski, he was born on June 5, 1921 in Russellton, Pennsylvania. In 1940 Stanley enlisted in the U.S. Navy in what would become a career spanning 34 years, three wars, WWII, Korea and Vietnam, serving aboard 23 vessels. His WWII campaign involved battles in all theaters of the war, including combat off the European and African coasts. In 1942 while serving on the USS Northampton, Stanley's boat was hit and sunk by the Japanese. It was the first boat he served on and was the only one to sink. During the Korean War, Stanley served on destroyers off the Korean coast. Beginning in 1963, at the age of 42, Stanley was assigned as a Riverboat Captain and served two tours of duty in Vietnam. He was proud to Captain with Riverboat PBR Divisions 535 and 554. Stanley retired from the U.S. Navy in 1974. He then worked for several years for the Department of Defense at the San Diego Naval Training Center. While stationed in New York City during WWII, on May 1, 1944 Stanley met the former Dorothy F. Wieszczecinski, of Bay City, and four days later they were married. They were together 69 years until Dorothy passed away on November 29, 2013. He was a member of the former St. Joseph Catholic Church. Stanley is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Stanley (Joanne) Pawlowski, Jr. of Bay City; grandchildren, Brian (Julie) Pawlowski of Monroe, NC and Kristin (Brad) Monaghan of Bay City; his four great-grandchildren, Connor, Brendan and Sean Monaghan and Wesley Pawlowski; and two sisters-in-law, Romaine (Joseph) Wongrowski and Doris Miller, both of Bay City. Stanley was also preceded in death by two brothers, Anthony Mazul and George Pawlowski; two sisters, Edna Dana and Mildred Turner; and three brothers-in-law, Irwin (Rita) Wieszczecinski, Archie Miller and Raymond (Darlene) Wieszczecinski. The Funeral Service will take place at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, November 19, 2014 at the Gephart Funeral Home, Inc. Officiating will be Rev. Fr. Dale A. Orlik. Military Honors will be conducted by the U.S. Navy and the Bay County Veterans Council. Private interment will be in Oak Ridge Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home on Tuesday from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. and on Wednesday from 10:30 a.m. until the time of service. Memorial contributions may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project. www.gephartfuneralhome.com