Sarah "Sally" A. Guzowski, Died February 27, 2019

Sarah “Sally” A. Guzowski

Died Feb. 27, 2019

LAKE LEELANAU – Sarah “Sally” Anne Guzowski, 64, of Lake Leelanau, passed away on February 27, 2019 at her home after a brief battle with pancreatic cancer.  Sally was born on March 17, 1954 at Kindley Air Force Base on the island of Bermuda, daughter of Frederick and Janet (Cornwell) Firchau.

Sally always felt that her greatest achievements were her loving 42-year marriage to Dick Guzowski and raising her three successful boys.  In 1984, she and Dick settled their family in Traverse City, which she believed was the best move of her life.  In 2005, she and Dick built her beloved home on Lake Leelanau, taking advantage of the dock life and the spectacular views. 

Sally graduated from Central Michigan University with a degree in Art History.  Her entire working career was spent in non-profit management, working with the Traverse City Arts Council, March of Dimes, the American Cancer Society, and the Leelanau County Chamber of Commerce.  She also helped start the Leelanau Economic Foundation.

Volunteer work was also central to Sally’s life.  She served as the first female President of Kiwanis, two-year president of the Parent-Teacher Organization at Trinity Lutheran Schools, and a member of the Board of Directors for Leelanau Christian Neighbors.  She also worked with Grand Traverse Hospice and the Boys and Girls Club of Traverse City.

Sally was known as an excellent listener with a tenacious spirit and a roll-up-your-sleeves-and-get-it-done attitude.  She will be remembered as a loving mother, wife, and sister, a good friend, and a woman who fought for what was important to her and strove to make her community a better place.

Sally is survived by her three sons, Josef (Rachel), Andrew (Lindsay), and Matthew (Haley) Guzowski; three grandchildren, Alexandra, Vivian, and Peter Guzowski; sister, Susan (Jim) VanDusen; brothers-in-law, Paul (Pat), Ken, Art (Mary), Bob (Sue), and John (Carol) Guzowski; sister-in-law, Mary (James) Lindbeck; cousins, Beth Ann (Chuck) Dyer and Rob Firchau; and special relatives, Robert (Druann) Firchau, Heidi and Jim Oneil, and Dick and Joann Wasserman.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

A celebration of life will be held on Sunday, June 2 from 1 to 5 pm at the Leland Lodge.

Memorial donations may be directed to the American Diabetes Association, www.diabetes.org, Wounded Warrior Project, www.woundedwarriorproject.org, and/or the Cowell Family Cancer Center,217 S. Madison St, Traverse City, MI 49684.

Please share condolences and memories with Sally’s family below or at our funeral home Facebook page: