Thursday, January 6, 2022
Doris/ mother Gertrude and father Lawrence and three older brothers, Warren, Ralph, and Clyde. They moved to Paw Paw, Michigan from Jonesboro, Arkansas. They both work in the same basket factory. Gertrude ran a basket making machine and Lawrence was a machine mechanic. Doris was born Sept. 26, 1927 in Paw Paw and spent many days playing in factory as parents worked. Soon they moved to Benton Harbor and worked at the basket factory there. They found a home on Bishop Street.
Erick's parents were immigrants from Russia. Erick was born Jan 21, 1929 and resided on Bishop Street with two younger brothers, Bob and Gerald one block away from Doris. Doris would have to pass by Erick's home to go to school and he would run to the door and smile and wave at her. Being that Doris was two years his senior she would roll her eyes and think what a silly little kid.
Doris married after school ans was a stay at home mom and wife. Doris taught herself sewing skills and sewed school clothes for her children. The girls always had such beautiful dresses to wear. Soon she was making dresses for other little girls from church and dance recitals. Doris had four children. Larry Zizkovsky, Linda Zizkovsky, Linda Zizkovsky Pepple, Janice LaMunion and James Baney.
Erick joined the Air Force and married. When he came home he was an engineer at Whirlpool. He had three children, Steven Petznick, Patricia Petznick Cole and Kenneth Petznick. Erick built his own home in Stevensville, Mi.
In the 60's Doris was a single parent, working up to three jobs at a time to buy a home for her and her children. Doris still made time after work to take her children and neighborhood kids to the beach to have such good memories. Doris worked at Auto Specialties where she met her very special friends, Lucy Prince and Ray Burns that have past away and she is joining them now.
Erick, as a single parent after losing his wife Bonnie to cancer. Still working at Whirlpool, he had help from his mother and daughter Patricia, in the raising of the children.
Doris was asked out with a group of old friends from school for drinks and dancing and that's when she met Erick again. They started dating and falling in love. Every morning, at his job at Whirlpool, Erick would look, out windows and see the windows at Auto Specialties, where Doris worked. She would throw him kisses and he would stretch his arms out meaning he loves her this much. From then on if she would look out in the yard while he was working he would stretch his arms out and smile. He would always leave I love you notes around the house. After his death, March 6, 2015, she found a note taped to a computer screen that said he loved her very much.
They married March 6, 1971. Soon moving to Coloma on Paw Paw Lake. 'Enjoying the lake with family and grandkids. Erick cherished Doris' children as if they were his own and treated them as such.
Doris opened a fabric store called Dots Fabric in St. Joseph. Doing what she loved, sewing. She made custom draperies and her daughter made slipcovers. Erick still working at Whirpool wold do all deliveries after work.
Erick was offered an early retirement so they decided to see the store and winter in Florida. They bought a mobile home in Avon Park, Florida after trying out pop-up and pull trailer.
Doris started a quilt club in her park and enjoyed her sewing. Erick had his own workshop always working and willing to help his neighbors when he could. He loved his poker and beer time with the guys.
They enjoyed planning trips with their kids and grandkids all over the United States. They loved camping with their friends and playing card games on the weekend with the kids. They loved dancing the polka at the Dank. Many good times going to Six Flags, Disney, Flea markets and just taking long rides on his motorcycle. They enjoyed each other.
When Erick's younger brother Bob passed away Erick told Doris that he needed to go to the hospital. Doris knew this was bad because Erick does not like going doctors. They found out that he had lung cancer. He was taken from us on March 6, 2015.
Doris missed him daily. Selling their home in Florida because it would not be the same without him. Living by herself and lonely. Trying to keep busy quilting but losing her sight and not capable of doing what she loves, sewing. Children helped her daily with meals, companionship, driving and doctors visits. It just wasn't the same as having Erick around.
One morning she was not capable of getting out of bed and an ambulance was called. Hospital said she needed nursing home care. She was admitted to Caretell Inns. Six months later she passed away on Dec 22, 2021 to be reunited with her love, Erick for 44 years and her dear friends.
"What a love story that Doris and Erick have left us"
