Negaunee Township––Richard J. Balwinski, 62, of Negaunee Township, entered eternal life Monday morning, April 28, 2008, at Marquette General Hospital where he had been a patient.
Born July 25, 1945, in Marquette, a son of Alexander and Genevieve Balwinski. Richard was raised in Marquette by Alexander and his step-mother Audrey Balwinski. He was a 1964 graduate of Gravereaet High School. Following graduation, he started working on the ore boats on the Great Lakes. On December 16, 1967, he married the former Kathryn Meloni and the couple set about establishing their home and raising a family. Richard was first employed at Lake Shore, Inc. and later as a warehouse man with Cleveland Cliffs, retiring after 36 years in 2001. Richard’s love of coins eventually developed into the creation of the Copper Coin Shop which has been in business for 37 years. He was a Numismatic at heart. His business and most of all, his grandchildren, were his life’s true love. Richard cherished the time he spent with his family and the wonderful memories they made. In his spare time, Richard enjoyed fishing and taking rides in the woods, looking for nature with his wife Kathryn.
Survivors include his wife, Kathryn of 40 years; two daughters, Brenda (Alex) Trujillo of Omaha, NE and Melissa (Eric) Kavanaugh of Neenah, WI; his two sons, Brian (Heidi) Balwinski of Ishpeming and William ‘Bill’ Balwinski of Negaunee; five loving grandchildren, Dylan, Tyler and Lillian Balwinski, and Lauren and Nicole Kavanaugh; his sister, Mary (R.T.) Roberts of Drummonds, TN; his brother, Peter Balwinski of Calumet; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by is parents and his grandson, Andrew.
The family will receive relatives and friends at St. Peters Cathedral Church on Friday, May 2, beginning at 11:00 am. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 12:00 noon Friday afternoon with Rev. Mike Steber, as celebrant. A reception for family and friends will follow in the church fellowship hall.