James Lyskawa

James (Jim) John Lyskawa, age 77, passed away January 26th, 2025 at Munson Medical Center in Traverse City, Michigan following several medical complications. Jim was the son of Henry and Lottie (Surdey) Lyskawa, born August 3rd, 1947 in Dearborn, Michigan. Jim’s early years included countless adventures with his siblings Jerry, Judy, and Joyce. Jim grew up with a great passion for the outdoors, enjoying the beaches of Lake Michigan and riding dirt bikes. After finishing school in Dearborn, Jim went on to begin his career as an appliance technician working several years for Montgomery Ward before moving onto a role at Sears for over 25 years. Jim was a dedicated and loyal employee, which were characteristics he displayed not only at work, but throughout all facets of his life.

Throughout his life Jim held a strong passion for family and friends, and was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather. In 1966 Jim married Dolores Wien and became a father to two daughters Diane and Jennifer. Following a separation from Dolores, Jim found the love of his life when he married his beloved bride, Lucinda (Hahnenberg) Lyskawa on August 20th, 1989. Together Jim and Cindy blended their two worlds raising Cindy’s children Krista and Charles alongside his own. Jim and Cindy loved to share the great outdoors with their children and friends, spending countless nights at a campground, trips to the backwoods of the U.P., and walking any shoreline of the Great Lakes he could get to. Jim enjoyed sharing his Polish heritage, cooking Golumpki or kielbasa and sauerkraut for the whole crowd, and telling stories from his life. Over the 35 years of marriage to Cindy, Jim could often be seen beaming with pride as he spoke of his wife, children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Jim found joy in remembering and reliving a silly moment, ensuring the crowd knew that he always had it right, telling a story from long ago, or tying in a bit of local history to an event happening in their life today. Jim never knew a stranger. No matter the day or time, you could always count on Jim to do the talking and he would fill the silence in any room with chatter.

In Jim’s final years he was able to make his and Cindy’s retirement dreams come true by purchasing a home and exploring new lands in the warm sunny weather of Homosassa, Florida. Jim loved his break from the long winters of Northern Michigan, and more than anything loved seeing how much joy that dream brought to Cindy.

Jim is survived by his wife Cindy; children, Diane (Dave) Coates, Jennifer (Paul) Sparks, Krista (Jason) Hillygus, and Charles (Jessica) Cederquist; his 7 grandchildren, Robert (Amanda) Denny, Zak (Samantha) Denny, Grace and Gabrielle Hillygus, and Blaine, Molly and Samuel Cederquist. Jim also had 3 great grandchildren, Marcus Denny, and Roman and Ezra Denny; his siblings, Judy (Jim) Kirchner, and brother-in-law, Dave LaVeau, as well as many loved family members and friends.

Jim is preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Lottie Lyskawa; siblings, Jerry & Kathy Lyskawa, sister, Joyce LaVeau, and Benjamin Cederquist.

The family will mourn the loss of Jim privately now, in hopes of celebrating his life at a later date when the weather in Northern Michigan is more Jim’s style.

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