Life of Ronald Raczkiewicz

Ronald Raczkiewicz (my uncle) was the owner of Shawmut Inn for over 25 years with his partner Ed Stone. This was a popular bar/restaurant on Lake Michigan Drive in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Before that, he was the owner, with a partner, at Midwest Bumper for seven years. ***** Ron was born on November 10, 1939. He was the youngest of Anthony and Pauline’s four children. Ron was born when his father was 46-years-old and his mother 37-years-old. The family lived at 501 Milwaukee NW. Anthony, his father, worked as a tacker in a leather tannery. Ron’s siblings were Lorraine, age 18, Anthony Jr., age 14, and Shirley, age 3. His nickname was “Rosko,” probably related to his last name. Ron married Pamela S. Ferwerda in June of 1960. They first lived in the little house next to Ron’s parents until they bought their first house just outside the city of Grand Rapids. They later moved to Coopersville, Michigan. His picture in a US Navy uniform was in the possession of Anthony’s brother Franciszek’s family. They are living in Krakow, Poland in 2023. Franciszek (Ron’s uncle) died in 1943 during World War II, when the Germans took his farm. Ron would have been four-years-old at the time. Somehow, Ron’s parents stayed in touch with Franciszek’s widow and sent the picture. ***** Ron was a member of St. Michael's Church of Coopersville and St. Adalbert Aid Society. ***** Ron and Pam had three children: Rhonda who was born in 1961, Paula who was born in 1964 and Robert who was born in 1966. ***** Their son Robert “Bobbie,” aged 22, of Coopersville, died Saturday, March 3, 1990, of accidental injuries related to a car accident, in Kalamazoo, Michigan. He attended Grand Rapids Junior College and worked at Ranger Tool and Die. ***** Ronald died on 15 April 2004 in Coopersville, Ottawa County, Michigan. He was 64 years old. ***** On February 16, 2013, their daughter Paula (Raczkiewicz) Kelly, age 49, of Grand Rapids, died. She was survived by her husband Willian and her children Steven and Shannon Schulte and two grandchildren. ***** Amazingly, I found out while doing family history that (my newfound 5th cousin) Richard Streng met my Uncle Ronny many years ago. Richard was doing genealogy and first met with my Uncle Tony at the Copper Top Restaurant – near where the Raczkiewicz family originally lived. Apparently, Tony didn’t have any family history to share and referred him to Ronny. Richard went to Coopersville and Ronny “was no help either.” Richard and his first wife went to Poland around 10+ years ago and met the family of Jącek Raczkiewicz (my newfound 2nd cousin.) Jącek later visited them here in Grand Rapids and remembers the public museum and Grand Haven. It is fun to be making all these new connections. Ron’s wife Pam lives in Coopersville, Michigan and his daughter Rhonda lives in North Carolina. ***** References: ***** Shawmut Inn: smartinez@mlive.com, S. M. |. (2017, August 12). Shawmut Inn closes after 39 years. mlive. https://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/2017/08/shawmut_inn_closes_after_39_ye.html ***** Bobby’s death: Coopersville resident dies in car crash on u.s. 131. (1990, March 5). Grand Rapids Press. ***** Ron’s death: Legacy.com, & Legacy. (2004, April 16). Ronald Raczkiewicz Obituary (2004) - Grand Rapids, Mi - Grand Rapids Press. Legacy.com. https://obits.mlive.com/us/obituaries/grandrapids/name/ronald-raczkiewicz-obituary?id=14729774 ***** Paula’s Death: Tributes.com. (n.d.). http://www.tributes.com/show/Paula-Sue-Kelly-95256915 *****