John J. Konkal Jr.
Died Aug. 22, 2020
CEDAR – John Joseph Konkal Jr., 91, of Cedar, passed away Saturday, Aug. 22, 2020 at home surrounded by his loving family.
John was born March 12, 1929 in Detroit; the son of John Sr. and Agnes Konkal. He grew up in Hamtramck, attended Ford trade school and later went on to graduate from the University of Detroit with a degree in engineering. He spent his professional career as an Industrial Engineer Executive working for many machine industries in the Detroit area. He was also a part of the Civil Air Patrol Reserves.
On May 5, 1951 at St. Thomas Church of Detroit he married L. Laura (Jagosz) Konkal who preceded him in death on March 20, 2019. John and Laura met in their teens and became high school sweethearts; they even grew up on the same street. They were inseparable. Fully devoted to each other, sharing their love of God and faith. After living in Roseville, Michigan they moved to Bloomfield Hills in 1964, where they raised their six children. John and Laura then retired up to Cedar, Michigan in 1995 to enjoy many happy years in their forever home.
John was an usher at St.Mary’s and a very involved 20 year member of the Knights of Columbus. He loved watching Tigers games with Laura, and they were a hit on the dance floor doing the Polka; so swift and perfect.
He was a loving and exceptional father that would do anything for his family. John was a truly kind man; he never used a curse word. On a typical day you would find John enjoying the lake view and bird watching. He loved taking pictures and had a camera with him at all times to capture memories. John had a special interest in cars, working on them, reading about them, and especially driving his prized 1967 Corvair that he restored himself. He was the king of maps and was always ready to pull one out and get you where you were going. John was a builder, designer, and handyman; if it needed fixing he was your guy. He even had a registered patent in his name. He adored babies! Some would call him a baby whisperer, they were always content in his arms. He’d let the kids mess up his Old Spice hair, laugh together, then comb it back into place just to have them do it all over again.
John is survived by his six children, Christine (Gary) Wobrock, Robert Konkal, Susan (Michael) Oldham, John P. Konkal, Carol (John) Rakowicz, and Paul (Jennifer) Konkal; a sister, Barbara Zaccagni; sisters in law, Betty Konkal, Doris Jagosz, and Kathy Jagosz; sixteen grandchildren, Adam, Ryan, Karl, Amanda, Brad, Ted, David, Lauren, Max, Katie, Hayden, Tyler, Sarah, Leah, Sophie, Ben and eleven great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his loving wife of sixty-seven years, Laura; a brother, Ralph Konkal; and a sister, Arlene Romer.
Visitation will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Sep. 26, 2020 at the Martinson Funeral Home of Suttons Bay. The funeral mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. also on Sept. 26 at St. Mary of the Assumption, Lake Leelanau. Burial will follow in St. Mary Cemetery.
Memorials may be directed to St. Mary’s Schools, PO Box 340, Lake Leelanau, MI 49653.
To view the funeral mass remotely please login in a few minutes before the start of the 11 AM Funeral Mass on Saturday, September 26:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/4299831981?
pwd=K1I5MXpjZzZoa2F4RWlKSEE3QjFNdz09
Or if you already have the Zoom app:
Meeting ID: 429 983 1981
Passcode: Konkal
Please share condolences with John’s family below or on the funeral home Facebook page:
My condolences to the family. I worked for John in the Engineering Dept. at the Cross Co. in the 1970's and 1980's. (not sure what years John was there).
ReplyDeleteJohn was a great Boss and Engineer. I did not realize that he retired up here in Cedar. Sorry that I missed the funeral.
Jens Hensel
Suttons Bay