Obituary of Andrew Jurkowski

Andrew Jurkowski passed away April 30, 2020 at the age of 95. He was born near Posnan, Poland on April 23, 1925, to Wladyslaw and Waleria (Bujakiewicz) Jurkowski. He was 14 when WWII started in September of 1939. He spent the war years working on the Podliszki factory farm and was recruited into the Polish Underground. After Poland's "liberation," Andrew entered the Polish Army officer's training corps. With a family history of support for Polish independence, he found himself on the wrong side of the Soviets and headed for a concentration camp or death. Andrew escaped to American-occupied Germany in 1945. He joined a paramilitary unit of the U.S. Army known at the Polish Guard. Fluent in several languages, Andrew worked as a translator in the military court system. After three years, he received authorization to come to the United States, arriving in Detroit in 1948. He worked in the optical business in Ferndale, Michigan, and in 1953 married Agnes "Mary Lou" Lederman. They moved to the Prudenville area in 1973 and he took employment as the optician for Dr. Virgil McClintic. He was also a co-owner of the Prudenville Dairy Queen from 1973 to 1982. He was known for his enjoyment of gardening, wildlife, and china painting. He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Lou, his parents, and siblings Wojciech, Krystina, Maria, and Anne. He is survived by two sons, Gregory (Lisa Wright) and Victor (Janet Allison), grandchildren Nicholas (Erin McKibben), Amelia (Daniel Utano), Graciela, and Jacob, and great granddaughter Rosamund, as well as nieces and nephews. In keeping with his wishes, he has been cremated and no service is planned. In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider Memorial Contributions to the charity of the donor's choice. A memoir of his early life, titled "Between the Swastika and the Bear" by Jurkowski and Wright, was published in 2017. To sign online guestbook, visit www.cremationsocietymidmi.com