CCR News March 2021 | Page 11

Thank you for accepting our membership . We are excited to be a new member of the Canada Creek Ranch world . Although we have had many times enjoyed the ranch fun we are just now members . We are James ( Rock ) and Victoria ( Vicki ) Rakowski . We are high school sweethearts that married right after Vic graduated from college as a nurse and moved into Spartan Village at MSU and then stayed in Lansing for the last 44 years . Vicki spent her career as a nurse at a hospital in Lansing and then as the COO for the American Cancer Society overseeing the mission programs for 3 states and now enjoys a mostly retired life . Rock is a computer science engineer and is the manager of the State of Michigan ’ s security operations center or more commonly known as cybersecurity . We have two children and 3 grandsons , Grant married to Stephanie with Jude 10 years old and Maitlyn married to Tyler with Wyatt soon to be 11 and Wesson 17 months . Vick chairs a committee for the State cancer consortium and is a board member of a local Respite program . Grant works with fish and coral and is a certified commercial scuba diver , Stephanie works for the State , Maitlyn works for MSU as a Vet tech in the Vet center and Tyler works as a diesel mechanic . We have a nice diverse family of skills .

We are big into travel and have been to almost all 50 states and many European countries over the years . Vic also has traveled frequently to Russia and the Middle East for work and we ( before the Covid hit ) recently visited the Galapagos Islands . We also like to camp , cross country ski , biking , hiking , reading , crafts of sewing , knitting and Rock is an avid stamp collector which keeps us busy during this shut down time . Our kids like camping , hunting , horses , scuba diving and swimming . The grands pretty much follow suit .

We were introduced to Canada Creek about 30 years ago through our dear friends the Hatch ’ s . It all started by attending the wonderful Winterfest which we have continued for many years after . That evolved into joining into beach bash fun and then a few other weekend camp trips . In our busy lives we didn ’ t feel we had the time to be full members but really that was shortsighted on our part as we love the peaceful and family oriented community . We have even won a couple of the snow building contests as the Hatch / Rakowski families and have often gladly volunteered to help with the games etc . Both of us and our kids love the outdoors and have camped literally all over this country starting with a tent and now a class A motorhome which actually was the wedding vehicle at the recent Hatch wedding held at the Ranch . Retirement of Rock soon will allow us to spend even more time in the great north . We now look forward to having our grandson ’ s get the full Canada Creek experience . Wyatt and Jude beg us to go to Canada Creek regularly and the few times they have been able to go the minute we pull in the excitement starts with all the ideas of what they are going to do . We have had the pleasure of meeting so many wonderful people at Canada Creek and look forward to spending more time getting to know even more .

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Michael Joseph Atkinson

ATKINSON , Michael Joseph “ Mike ”. December 26 , 2020 . Age 87 . Beloved husband of Margaret ( nee : Zettell ) for 59 and a half years . Loving father of Megan Atkinson , Timothy Atkinson ( Jane ), Michael Atkinson ( Pam ), Patrick Atkinson ( Theresa ), James Atkinson , Mary Latcha ( Alan ), Robert Atkinson ( Kerry ) and the late Catherine Atkinson . Proud and loving grandfather of Elaine , John Paul , David , Thomas , Regina , Erin , Linnea , Elise , Sarah , Claire , Alan Jr ., Catherine , Monica , Joshua , Tobit , Silas and the late Emma . Dear brother of John Atkinson , Jim Atkinson , his twin Frank Atkinson ( Sadie ), Patricia Lucier , the late Joey Sartor and the late Gerry Gardiner .

Mike proudly served in the United States Army and worked as a wood model maker for GM Fisher Body for 35 years . Mike had a strong Catholic faith , a servant ’ s heart , loved the Lord with all his heart , and had a passion for life . He gave his time as a Cub Master and Scout Master ; he was involved in prison ministries , brought the Eucharist to the sick at Crittenton Hospital and delivered for Meals on Wheels . Mike was a 3rd Order Secular Franciscan , was active in the St . Vincent de Paul Society and sang in the church choirs at both St . Kieran Catholic Church and St . Andrew Catholic Church . He was a friendly neighbor , a good Samaritan , and a lover of airplanes and nature . More than anything else in his life , Mike loved his family and being with them whenever possible . He especially enjoyed travelling the world and making pilgrimages to special places like Jerusalem , Rome , Santiago , Fatima , Lourdes , the Oberammergau passion play and Ireland .

Instate Wednesday 10:30am until time of 11am Mass at St . Kieran Catholic Church , 53600 Mound Rd . ( S . of 25 Mile Rd .), Shelby Township . Interment , Resurrection Cemetery , Clinton Township . In lieu of flowers memorial contributions are appreciated to the Capuchin Soup Kitchen , the Right to Life Michigan Education Fund , the Air Force Museum Foundation or to Crittenton Unlimited Potential . Please share memories with the family at their “ On-Line Guestbook ” at WujekCalcaterra . com