Thelma J. Luczak

Our strong willed and independent loving mother and nana passed away on Sunday, April 19, 2020 following a battle with lung cancer, age 81 years. The only child of the late John P. and Altha "Betty" (Arnot) Campbell was born September 10, 1938 in Bay City, Michigan. She graduated from Visitation Catholic High School. Thelma was a long-time member of our Lady of the Visitation Catholic Church and is now a member of St. Catherine of Siena Parish-St. Vincent de Paul Church. From a very young age, Thelma learned a good work ethic from her father and mother, working in their family business, Campbell's Lunch and Party Store in the Banks area. After high school she went on to work at the Bay City Police Department as a secretary. She then married the love of her life, Gerald A. "Jerry" Luczak on February 24, 1962 in Bay City, MI.  After taking a break from work for a while to raise her boys, she went back to work at Bay County 74th District Court where she worked as a jury clerk. She became known by many in the community because she was the first person individuals saw after getting off the elevator on the 2nd floor in the County Building.  She retired from there in 1994. Following retirement, she went to work part-time as a secretary joining her husband and sons at the family business, Gephart Funeral Home, Inc. and was still helping until last year. Thelma had an amazing personality, an infectious smile and anyone she met loved her and became her friend.
For years she enjoyed traveling to Mexico in the winters with her husband, Jerry and their traveling companions, Ron and Joyce Koehler and Hal and Eve Anderson, she loved hitting the casinos in Las Vegas, Mt. Pleasant and Standish, she was very lucky on the slots. Thelma also loved spending time at the cabin at Whites Beach and the cabin at Secord Lake, and she loved spending time with her children, grandchildren, and friends. Cooking and baking was her passion and she enjoyed sharing her finished products with family and friends, she also enjoyed going out for lunch and dinner with family and friends, working in her yard, feeding the birds and all the other critters that showed up, keeping her house meticulously clean, nightly rides out by Killarney Beach to look for deer and spending time with her faithful companion, her cocker spaniel, Murphy. It broke her heart when she could not take care of him anymore but was grateful to find a loving family to care for him.
Left behind to cherish her memories are her son and daughter-in-law, David and Nicole Luczak; grandchildren, Brandon and Tyler Luczak, and daughter-in-law, Cindy Luczak; grandchildren Matt and Megan Luczak; her longtime companion, James "Jim" Baldwin; sister-in-law, Margaret Luczak, many nieces, nephews, cousins and many close friends. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband Gerald A. "Jerry" Luczak on July 7, 2001, her son, Douglas J. "Doug" Luczak on February 22, 2017 and her brother-in-law and sisters-in-law. I would like to extend a special thank you to Nicole and Jim for always being there for my mother when I couldn't take her to her doctor's appointments, shopping and her very important weekly hair appointments and thank you to her neighbors for always keeping an eye on her and helping out when she needed it. "But we remember you now in love, your life from start to end, and were glad we knew you, As a Mother and a Friend."
Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic private services will take place Thursday, April 23, 2020 at Gephart Funeral home, Inc. with private interment in Heavenly Rest Cemetery. Those planning an expression may wish to consider donations to Bay Medical Foundation or the Humane Society of Bay County or any other animal rescue. Please share online condolences at www.gephartfuneralhome.com