Gwen Marie Piotrowski

MARENISCO, Mich. - Gwen Marie Piotrowski, 52, a long-time resident of Marenisco, passed away Saturday morning, April 2, 2016, after a long struggle with lupus.

Gwen was born on July 26, 1963, in Wakefield, a daughter of Clarence Edward and Sylvia Ann (Polley) Ryskey. She attended Marenisco High School and graduated in 1981.

On June 29, 1985, Gwen was united in marriage to Mark Thomas Piotrowski at the Lutheran Church in Marenisco. They made their home in Mount Morris and were blessed with a son. While downstate, she worked as a hospice coordinator for Genesys Hospice Care in Flint.

Following Mark's retirement from the city of Flint in 1994, they returned to Marenisco. Gwen was elected for two terms as the Marenisco Township Clerk, from March 1995 to November 2004. While in office, she was instrumental in writing a grant for the development of Marenisco's gun shooting range. Gwen also assisted in compiling information and writing grants that helped fund the skateboard park and playground equipment. Always wanting to give back to her community, she became a certified instructor and taught hunter safety courses in Marenisco for many years. For a few summers, Gwen worked in the office at Dairyman's Resort in Boulder Junction, Wis.

Gwen was an avid reader, enjoyed sewing and took pleasure in her flower garden. She passed these enduring traits on to her beloved grandchildren.

Gwen is survived by her husband, Mark; a son, Mark Jr. (Jillian); two grandchildren, Benjamin and Brittany; two stepchildren, Nolan (Melanie) and Stefanie (Joe); nine stepgrandchildren, Lexi, Savannah, Alex, Max, Elijah, Sammy, Isabelle, Mata and Joey; two brothers, Gary and Greg (Jessie) Ryskey; a sister, Gloria (Mike) Keast; two brothers-in-law, Dick Aapala and Michael Piotrowski; three sisters-in-law, Annette (George) Crnkovich, Chris (Virgil) Wright and Alicia Piotrowski; numerous nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins, and a very special lifelong friend, Maggie Kumma.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her grandparents; and a sister, Gail Aapala.

A celebration of Gwen's life will be held at a later date.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Jerald Rocco, owner-manager of Lakeside Memorial Chapel Inc., in Wakefield. Condolences may be expressed online at lakesidememorialchapel.com.