Obituary of Bernard Patrick Rutkowski

Dear Dad, You died on Friday, March 15, 2019. But what you did during the 85 years you were here . . . lives. You taught us so much. You taught us to love unconditionally. You taught us the need for compassion and serving others. Your work as teacher, IRS Offer and Compromise Officer, and union advocate for 30 years exemplified servant leadership. Taking care of the underdog and treating every person kindly is how Jesus lived his life too. You taught us that love is beautiful. Like the way you loved mom, your wife of over fifty-six years, Audrey Teresa (Auer.) Watching the two of you together was like attending a master class in love, friendship, and faith. Raising three daughters (Ann Marie Hoffman, Grace Elizabeth Damerow, and Mary Margaret Skorupski) may have taught you that men could survive with the toilet seat down. And being raised by you and mom taught us high expectations in terms of the kind of men that we chose to have in our lives. You loved Mark Hoffman, Ken Damerow, and Mark Skorupski as your own sons, unconditionally. Thank you for rejoicing in them, always reminding them how much you valued them in our lives and as fathers of your grandchildren. You taught us that a persons true measure is found in their integrity and credibility and that trust and honesty are simply expectations especially when youve made mistakes. You taught us (and the neighborhood) to appreciate music, from Ravels Bolero to Maynard Ferguson, from ABBA to Glenn Miller, and everything in between. It is a balm for the soul, in good times and in struggles. You taught us that frugality can even be applied to toilet paper. You taught us to speak our minds and stand up for what is right, even if it means speaking up against institutionalized practices of the church. The Catholic Church is our church and should reflect a new changing world. You taught us that kielbasa, chicken noodle soup, paczki, golabki, and Chruścikis are traditional foods to be feasted on, and that amazing conversations happen when breaking bread together. You taught us about loyalty and honor; the value of setting a goal high and to hit the target, hit the target, hit the target. And that we have miles to go before we rest and miles to go before we rest. You taught us that family is the greatest gift, whether its family youre born into or family that you create. You taught us that rising early on Saturday mornings to work on our cars was a great way to start the day even if your daughter was getting married in two hours.. To obsess a bit over getting the tires rotated may save lives. You taught us that the greatest praise one human can offer another is to call them friend. You taught us the love of reading by sitting on the porch reading and singing to all the neighborhood kids. This has created the legacy of a new generation of avid readers, grandchildren who got to experience, "But Not the Hippopotamus" snuggled on your lap. They will miss you madly, your grandchildren:Patrick Hoffman; Alice and Ryan Frame; Peter, Gabrielle, and Isabella Damerow; and Nicholas and Madison Skorupski. You taught us that living a life filled with love, being led by the Holy Spirit will leave a lasting imprint on those you love. You left that imprint on generations. On individuals. On us. Go now. Join your mother and father: Helen and Stanley. Join your cherished in-laws: Orb and Alice. Join Agnes and Bill. Join your brothers: Stanley, Tommy, and Larry along with his wife Barbara. Join your sister Helen and brothers-in-law Custer Sienkiewicz and Pete Doncea, Godson Kevin and the many, many friends youve made: Andy Sugamele, Stephanie Varani, Howard Hoffman, George Hogan and Tony Bellas. Dance together in the music and light of the Holy Trinity. You leave behind many who love you: your wife and best pal Audrey; your sisters-in-law, Margaret Auer and Carolyn Doncea; your siblings, Eleanor (Sienkiewicz), Conrad and his wife Sue, Gerald, Patricia, Sally and her husband Tim Tutak, and Jimmy; your children, their spouses, and grandchildren; your nieces and nephews; and your friends, too numerous to name. We have many reasons to be thankful that you were our Dad. But the greatest reason is this: you were our teacher. You will always be our teacher. We will continue to learn from you. Your legacy will continue to flourish in us and in your grandchildren. Thank you for loving us well. Your daughters, Ann Marie, Grace Elizabeth & Mary Margaret Funeral Information Saturday, March 23 Christ Redeemer 2700 Waldon Rd, Lake Orion, MI 48360 Visitation 9:00 AM - 11:00AM Mass starts at 11:00 AM luncheon immediately following. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to the following charities: Capuchin Soup Kitchen Development Office 1820 Mount Elliott Street Detroit, MI 48207 or Gleaners Food Bank 2131 Beaufait St Detroit, MI 48207