ALBIN JOHN FILARSKI
Albin John Filarski, 85, longtime resident of Alpena and Hubbard Lake, Michigan, passed away suddenly on Saturday morning Oct. 30, 2021, at UF Health Leesburg Hospital, Leesburg, Florida while wintering in Bushnell, Florida. Albin was born Oct. 28, 1936, the oldest of nine children, to the late Vincent and Mary (Stoinski) Filarski in Posen, Michigan.
He enlisted in the US Army, Oct. 16, 1956, completing Basic Training in Fort Leonard, Missouri, transferring to Fort Gordon, Georgia, where he was assigned to the Transportation Motor Pool until being honorably discharged on Oct. 16, 1958. While his brother Vincent Filarski Jr. who had enlisted in the US Army, in June 1956, completed Basic Training in Fort Leonard, Missouri, transferred to Fort Louis, Washington, for Advanced Infantry Training before transferring to Germany until being honorably discharged in 1958.
He was employed at Stoneport Quarry, currently LaFarge Limestone Quarry in Presque Isle Township, Michigan, for 28 years, working as a heavy equipment mechanic, rock crusher operator and a test core drill rig operator before taking early retirement in 1988. After two boring years of retirement, he enrolled in the Seafarers International Union and sailed the Great Lakes on the boats for 11 years, going from the deck department to the wheelhouse, before finally retiring in 2001.
In his younger years he enjoyed camping, hunting, and fishing, after finally retiring he enjoyed restoring and driving his 1953 Kaiser Dragon, 4-door sedan, working in his vegetable garden and trying to restore a 1942 Minneapolis-Moline Tractor, as well as enjoying good Polish food, polka music, polka dancing and attending the Posen Potato Festival.
He is survived by his children: Michael (Cheryl) Filarski of Oregon, Jean Filarski of Iowa, Janet (Phillip) Tomlinson of Arizona and stepson David (Tracey) Wallace of South Carolina, his brothers and sisters: Vincent (Audrey) Filarski Jr of Posen, Michigan, Lorraine (Orlan) Kortman, Hawks, Michigan, James (Beverly) Filarski, Millington, Michigan, Pauline Filarski, Alpena, Michigan, and Donald (Wanda) Filarski, Lake Panasoffkee, Florida, including eight grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wives: Lorrine (Januchowski) Filarski, May 9, 1959 – Dec. 31, 1969, Joan (Boczek-Burnham) Filarski, June 9, 1973 – Oct. 9, 1983, and Marlene (Kihn-Wallace) Filarski, May 28, 1988 – Oct. 7, 2016, also by his parents: Vincent and Mary Filarski, his sisters, Marie Legacy, Gloria Wirgau, brother; Paul Filarski and nephew Donald Filarski Jr.
Family and friends will gather at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church, 3433 Herron Rd, Herron, Michigan on Friday, Dec. 3, 2021 for a Memorial Visitation starting at 10 a.m. with Memorial Mass of Christian Burial following at 11:00 a.m. with Rev. Michael Lingaur officiating. Full Military Honors accorded by VFW Post 2496 will follow the Mass.
Condolences may be shared with the family at karpushuntercares.com
Final Resting Place: Holy Cross Cemetery, Alpena, Michigan.
Cremation by Banks/Page-Theus Funerals Home, Wildwood, Florida.
Funeral arrangements by Karpus-Hunter Funeral Home, Alpena, Michigan.