Adolph Nick Joswiak

Adolph “Nick” Joswiak, of Warren, Michigan passed away at the age of 102 on October 22, 2022. Nick was the beloved husband of late Irene and father of the late Ronald Joswiak.  Many nieces and nephews also survive, including Denise, Larry, Gerard, Raymond, Gregory, Linda, Ken, Marianne., .

He was born in Brenham, Texas on February 15, 1920, and raised on a farm.  He was the seventh of fourteen children his family.  Times were hard for the family when the country fell into the Great Depression in 1929.   At age 16, he came to Michigan and worked for the Civilian Conservation Corps, one of the New Deal programs found by President Franklin D. Roosevelt that aimed to restore prosperity to Americans.

Nick was always admiring the Marine Corps and when they broke the news on the radio that Japan had attacked Pearl Harbor, he announced, “I’m joining the Marine Corps” and proceeded to join the Marines in 1942. He spent much of his time as a machine gunner and an artillery-man. He fought for several years in the Pacific and landed with Marines on Guam, New Caledonia and Okinawa.  After the war, Nick and his wife Irene had a son, Ronald Gregory, who later joined the Marines, went to Vietnam and came home with two Purple Heart medals.

Joswiak started his career working in the automotive industry as a clerk at a plant that produced springs. He was eventually elected president of UAW Local 351 and served for nine years.  He retired in 1977.  His wife Irene died in 1978 and his only child Ronald Gregory died in 2015.   

Nick lived in Detroit for many years, then moved to Warren where he lived for ten years prior to his seven year stay at Park Place Heritage Village in Warren.  In February of 2021, Warren Weekly Newspapers featured an article on Joswiak “Warren Resident, World War II Veteran Turns 101”.

Some described Nick as a generous, good guy taking care of others. He was also described as strong, a character, with a “bite to him”. Anyone that met him would agree that if he was one thing, he was a proud Marine!

Visitation is at St. Martin DePorres Church, 31555 Hoover Road in Warren - Friday, October 28, 2022, at 9:00 a.m. until the time of service at 9:30 a.m.  Burial – Resurrection Cemetery.

Donations may be made The Michigan Animal Rescue League.

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