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Jan. 26, 1945 – Sept. 2, 2024
Pamela Kotzian, 79, of Hillman, passed away peacefully on Sept. 2, 2024.
Pamela was born on Jan. 26, 1945, to Richard and Edith Shirley (Richardson) Gray in Detroit. Pamela grew up in Union Lake and graduated from Walled Lake High School in 1963. Pamela worked for the State of Michigan Department of Social Services as a Quality Control Analyst for over 30 years.
Pamela was married on Oct. 6, 1967, to the love of her life John Joseph Kotzian Jr., they would have celebrated 57 years of marriage this year. They went on to have two children John Richard (Kimberly) Kotzian of Brooklyn and Wendy Marie Kotzian of Hillman.
After retiring in 1997, she went on to work for Boysville of Michigan as a juvenile transporter. Pamela was always active in her community having served in the Boy Scouts of America, Girls Scouts, Lake Avalon Property Owners Association, Hillman Township Building Authority, Hillman School Board, Brush Creek Mill, Selective Service, United Way, and most likely more that we haven't mentioned or don't recall. She received Hillman's Citizen of the Year award. If there was a service board to be on, Pam was on it.
Pamela will be most remembered as the Roller Skating Lady of Hillman, having been a driving force to keep Hillman Roller Skating open and operational for nearly 40 years. Pam loved working at the roller rink and all of the people she met through the years through roller skating.
Pamela is survived by husband John, her children John and Wendy, her bonus son Jason Witzke of Hillman, grandchildren Hunter Colt (Tiffany) Linseman of Hillman, Fisher Hawk (Destiny) Linseman of Hillman, Meridien Fawn (Evan Taylor) Gordon of Hillman, great grandchildren Archer Jay Linseman, Kaine and Lainie Jacques of Hillman. Siblings Nancy (James) Alden of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, Mark (Cheryl) Gray of Franklin, TN, Michelle (Jesse) Weaver of Union Lake, MI and many nieces and nephews.
Pamela was preceded in death by her parents Richard and Shirley Gray, her brother Gerald Gray, brother-in-law James Alden and her daughter-in-law Kimberly Joy Kotzian.
Per her wishes cremation has already taken place and a Celebration of Life is planned for Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, at the Hillman Community Center. Visitation at 10:30 a.m., service at 11:30 a.m. and a luncheon immediately following. In lieu of flowers the family is requesting that memorials be addressed to Hillman Community Center C/o PO Box 95, Hillman, MI 49746 to benefit one last roller skate for the area youth at the Hillman Roller Skating Rink compliments of Pamela Kotzian.