Obituary of Michael A. Sokolowski

Michael A. Sokolowski, age 73, of Chicago, Illinois passed away on Friday, January 1, 2021 at home with his wife Kathy Sokolowski. Michael was born January 9, 1947 in Chicago, Illinois, the son of Dr. Joseph Sokolowski and Florence (Sadowski) Sokolowski. On November 14, 1970, Michael was united in marriage to Kathy (Augle) Sokolowski in Chicago, Illinois. Mike was a gentle giant, a fighter, a man of few words but so many important actions. He touched countless lives and filled many people with the incredible joy he felt for life. He was a man of unshakable conviction…a man of integrity and honor. And a veteran who served his country proudly (with two tours in the Vietnam war, under his belt). The incredible impact he has had on so many people will not fade, his light will continue to burn…the people he has touched, and the legacy he leaves will continue through all of us. Anyone else fighting prostate cancer and pancreatic cancer would have gone quietly into the night, not Michael. He took it head on, and told it to get the hell out of the way because he still had work to do. The way he died is the way he lived…his way. He lived a life that was full…he loved, laughed, cried and traveled every highway…regrets, he had a few…and regularly bit off more than he could chew. He ate it up and spit it out, he faced it all and he stood tall. He did it his way (special thanks to Frank!). He loved many things…cooking, boating, building clocks, Thumper the rabbit, Kansas City Chiefs, Lincolns, his family, his dog Misty, and most importantly his wife of 50 years. He was a master of stepping up to the challenge and over-delivering every time. He made those around him better than they thought they could be. A self-made man he was, and with his year of college spent a lifetime teaching much to those with Bachelors degrees, Masters degrees and PhDs. He was a rare combination of someone who had a love of life, and a firm understanding of what was important — the simplicity of living a life with those you love, saving all that you can, creating a plan, being true to your word, and calling BS when it needed to be called. He is known for so many different names that captured all that he was and believed in: Ski, Thumper, Energizer Bunny, Bubba, Chef-Boy-R-Ski. And so much that those he touched had to say…"The GOAT of Firestone", "A second dad to me," "I credit him with so much of the person I am today," "You may not know but he taught me a lot sometimes without even saying a word," Of all the people he touched, his most proud and greatest achievement in life was marrying his wife Kathy Sokolowski of 50 years who supported him in all their glory, and lovingly supported him physically, mentally and emotionally during their last years, months, weeks and days together. He will always be the hero of his two children: Jim Sokolowski and Joe Sokolowski. Before Mike's work was done here, he received two calls, a sort of offer you can't refuse (and also of offer where one had to be picked.) The man downstairs offered up an opportunity to make the “Hot Rocks” even better. And the one upstairs offered the opportunity to herd the cardinals…making sure they all get to the right place, on time, on budget, and do it while saving a buck too. He chose to partner with the man upstairs for the next leg of his journey as he wanted to touch even more lives on his next assignment. As a bonus it came with some great perks, like job security to meet and exceed his 44 years with Firestone, along with work more important than he could ever have imagined. He left one important instruction to his family, "Keep moving forward, the day is already half over, don’t slow down for coffee." When Mike embarked on his next important mission in the sky he continues to love and watch over his wife Kathy Sokolowski of Lake Ozark, Missouri, his sons Jim Sokolowski of O'Fallon, Missouri and Joe Sokolowski, of Lee's Summit, Missouri, and four grandchildren: Annika Sokolowski, Justice Sokolowski, Arianna Sokolowski, and Michael Sokolowski. He is also survived by his brother Floyd Sokolowski and wife Amy of Elk Grove, Illinois and his sister Clare Thornley of Kansasville, Wisconsin, along with many other relatives and friends. A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, January 9, 2021 at 3:00 pm at Hedges-Scott Funeral Home in Osage Beach, Missouri. The family will welcome friends for visitation from 2:00 - 3:00 pm prior to services at the funeral home. Inurnment will follow the service at the Veterans Wall at Lake Memorial Gardens in Osage Beach, Missouri with Full Military Rights to follow.