Theodore Sotak Died April 1, 2018

                                 Theodore M. Sotak

                                  Died April 1, 2018

BINGHAM TOWNSHIP - Theodore Mark Sotak, 64, of Bingham Township, went to be with the Lord Easter Sunday, April 1, 2018.

Ted was born March 10, 1954 in Lakewood, Ohio, the son of Theodore Bernard Sotak and Shirley Ann (Gfell) Sotak.  On August 5, 1995, in St. Mary’s Church in Lake Leelanau, he married Susan Kay (Williams) Sotak, who survives.

Ted was a certified public accountant by education and continued that work when he moved to the Traverse City area in 1983.  He transitioned to the Petroleum Industry in the early 90's.  He went from the office to the field and found his passion.  After commuting for a number of years from Traverse City to Oklahoma he and Sue moved to the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area where he excelled as a drilling consultant and mentoring trainees.  He retired in the fall of 2015 and they moved back to Leelanau County.

He  enjoyed being a University of Michigan sports fan and singing Karoake.  He loved his family, especially his grandchildren who wanted to be Papa Ted's partner at lawn games, especially Corn Hole.

Ted was a good sport and didn't mind being teased.  Towards the end of his life, he let all the burdens and worries of life go.  He spent his last month renewing his faith and telling friends and family how much he loved them and appreciated them.

Ted is survived by his wife of twenty-two years, Susan; his mother Shirley; five children, Rebecca S. (Christopher) Belanger, Mary C. (Jeremy) Steck, Brian J. (Erica) Peplinski, David C. Peplinski, Christopher M. (Heather) Sotak; two brothers, Terrence (Judi) Sotak, Thomas (Jodie) Sotak; sixteen grandchildren, Christopher “Jake”, Isaiah, Joshua, Levi, Elijah and Gianna Belanger, Claire, Luke, Mark, Teresa and Margaret Steck, Nora, Torin and Theron Peplinski, Nicholas and Emily Sotak.

He was preceded in death by his father, Theodore, on Jan. 8, 1993.

Visitation will be held from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. with the Rosary to be prayed at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, April 4, at the Holy Rosary Church of Cedar.  Visitation will also be held at 10:00 a.m., one hour prior to the mass of at 11 a.m. on Thursday, April 5, also at the church.  Burial in Mt. Calvary Cemetery will be announced in the spring.  Father Christopher Jarvis will serve as celebrant.

Memorials may be directed to Mass Intentions; Autism Society of America, www.autism-society.org, and/or Ed and Irene Fleis Education Fund, www.edandirenefleiseducationfund.com

Condolences and memories may be shared with Ted’s family below or on our Facebook page.