Joseph J. "Little Joe" Brzozowski Jr

Joseph J. "Little Joe" Brzozowski Jr
NOVI, Mich. Joseph J. "Little Joe" Brzozowski Jr., 89, of Novi, Mich., died Aug. 29, 2006 after a brief stay at Brighton Gardens Assisted Living facility of Northville, Mich. Joe was born May 12, 1917 in Bristol, the son of the late Joseph and Helen (Kaminski) Brzozowski Sr. He attended St. Stanislaus School and Bristol High School. As a young adult, he toured the region with a group of friends who traveled on motorcycles. He enjoyed working with his hands and owned a garage and service station. Subsequently, he worked at New Departure-Hyatt Division of General Motors and later as a member of the quality department at Associated Spring Corp. His life was interrupted as he enlisted to serve his country during the World War II. He served in the Army, where he participated in several South Pacific campaigns, earning an honorable discharge. After returning to Connecticut, he married Irene Karwoski in May 1948. They started their home, which he largely built by himself, on Fern Hill Road, Forestville. Joe was an avid golfer and member of Pequabuck Golf Club, where he lost many golf balls, particularly after his retirement from Associated Spring in 1981. He is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Len and Mary Anne, of Novi, Mich., along with his two grandsons, Marc, currently a senior at Michigan State, and Michael of Mountain View, Calif., where he is a researcher at HP Labs. Joe also leaves two brothers, Bernard and Stanley, and their wives, Dorothy and Katherine of Bristol. In addition, he was proud to have several nieces and nephews, Jane Lilly, Annie Skempris, Francis Brzozowski, Lee, David, Malvin and Daniel Karwoski Jr., Donna Mangum, Terry Marcantonio, Marianne Derichsweiler, Greg Kelmelis, Irene Zimmer, Ronnie Szewc and Barbara Walker, who are scattered from Maine to Las Vegas. He will be missed by his brothers and sisters-in-law, Daniel and Malvina Karwoski and Ann and Sam Kelmelis. He was predeceased by a sister, Mary M. Sylvia Brzozowski; and a stepbrother, Joseph Pavlec. Calling Hours will be Thursday, August 31, from 5 to 8 p.m., at Dunn Funeral Home, 191 West St., Bristol, 06010. Funeral services will be held Friday, Sept. 1, at 9 a.m., at the funeral home, followed by a 10 a.m. service at St. Matthew Church, 120 Church Ave., Bristol. Burial with military honors will follow in St. Joseph Cemetery, Bristol. Friends wishing to remember Joe are asked to send a contribution in his name, to the Alzheimer's Association, Michigan Great Lakes Chapter, 107 April Drive, Suite 1, Ann Arbor, MI 48103-1903, or online at www.alzmigreatlakes.org.