Robert “Bob” Zgnilec, 88

Robert “Bob” Zgnilec age 88, of Imlay City, MI was called home to be with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Friday, September 27, 2024, after a valiant 12 year battle with cancer. He passed away at home surrounded by his loving family. Bob was born on March 29, 1936, in Detroit, Michigan to Chester and Lottie (Cydejko) Zgnilec. He had one sister, Helene (Zgnilec) Sedik. Bob grew up in Detroit and moved west because ‘he was always a cowboy at heart’. Bob married Carolyn M. Vinckier from Armada, Michigan in 1960 at St. Mary Mystical Rose Catholic Church of Armada, MI.

Bob served his country in the US Army, at the end of the Korean War. When he returned, he went on to work for and retire from General Motors Corporation. He worked at Chevrolet Engineering and later at Flint Service & Parts (SPO). Bob was the original owner and founder of the Lumberjack Shack in Imlay City, MI, starting it in 1974. He was also a member of the Imlay City Knights of Columbus and a member of the St Cornelius Catholic Church in Dryden, MI where he served as an usher for many years.

He is survived by his wife of 64 yrs., Carolyn (Vinckier) Zgnilec; his children, Barbara (David) Cowell of Essexville, Sandra (Louis) Parsch of Imlay City and David (Sandra) Zgnilec of Almont; ten grandchildren, Amanda (Aaron) Harkness, Matthew Cowell, Chelsea (Ryan) Wilkins, Nichole (Brian) Morris, Lucas Parsch, Kaleb (Jessica) Parsch, Nathan (Shelby) Zgnilec, Emily Cowell, Allison (Mike) Romine, Seth Parsch; and his 20 great-grandchildren, Cailyn, Cameron, Eloise, Carolyn, Annabelle, Gerard, Luke, Simon, Lottie, Rhett, Colette, Charlotte, Elizabeth, Clayton, Josephine, Joseph, Sawyer, Leonie, Augustine, and Anton.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents Chester and Lottie Zgnilec and his sister Helene Sedik.

A Funeral Mass was be celebrated Tuesday, October 1, 2024 at St. Cornelius Catholic Church, 3834 N. Main Street, Dryden, MI. Officiating was Reverend Father Charles Alterman. Burial immediately followed at Webster Cemetery.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the Muir Brothers Funeral Home of Imlay City, 225 N. Main Street, Imlay City, MI.

Those wishing to make memorial contributions may direct them to either the United Hospice Service of Marlette Regional Hospital, Fr. Solanus Casey Capuchin Soup Kitchen, or the Lapeer Pregnancy Center.

Please be sure to sign our on-line register book at www.muirbrothersfh.com to share your memories and condolences with the Zgnilec family.