Gary Gutowski

You always made me laugh brother, one hell of joker! You’ll be remembered and missed! Rest in peace Brother!

I still can’t believe u are gone. But u gave me memories i will forever cherish. U taught me how to hunt and fish. I remember every yr u took me out of school and we went up to the cabin in manistee to hunt every yr with grandpa gutowski. I also remember the yr u shot that big 8 pt buck in Iowa. U taught me how to drive. U were an awesome stepdad. And I will always remember your favorite saying to me. Less talk more ears. I miss I already but I know I will see u again. And I will pass what u taught me to my kiddos. Love ya Stepdad. Till we meet again.

Lyndsey and Danielle thinking of you sending prayers pray warm hugs & love heartto both of you! Your Dad has always held a special place in my heart & he loved you both in his way of loving you. He's at peace & reunited with those who predeceased him & missed so very much. Love Cindy & Family

Thank you Mike for sharing the memories and for your words. This brought tears to my eyes. -Lyndsey

I had the privilege of working with Gary for nearly a decade in the 1990s at FoodSaver and Festival Foods. He was more than a boss—he was a mentor who taught me the value of hard work, responsibility, and thoughtfulness. Gary had a gift for connecting with people. He knew customers by name and always made time for a kind word or quick conversation. He made the store feel like a community. Outside of work, Gary was a proud Michigan fan, a passionate deer hunter, a talented cook, and an avid eagle photographer. But most of all, he loved his two daughters with all his heart—they were his greatest pride and joy. Thank you, Gary—for the lessons, the laughs, and the example you set. May you soar like the eagles you loved. Go Blue, and rest easy.

I’m gonna write this, but Lord knows I’m not as good with words as Gary was. we went to high school together and then decades later you were driving almost 3 hours to meet me and take me to Taco Bell. Sometimes relationships don’t work sometimes friendships do. Maybe that’s what it was supposed to be all along friends . For the last 14 years, I have heard from you and for some reason I always knew when you were in a crisis. I was there after you had a stroke. I was there after you had the fire and I have been there recently as you made a transition into your new apartment. I always tried to support you as a friend help you when I could because I always wanted the best for you I wanted you to be safe and I wanted you to be well and if I could help you achieve that then that’s what I wanted to do. Was that easy no I know you struggle when you can no longer talk, and I also know that you didn’t like other people telling you what to do because you were stubborn The love of nature and animals, and taking pictures it was not uncommon and not very long ago where I got five pictures of the same squirrel. I will always remember your laugh and I will always remember your hugs and I will always remember your love of music, especially the song.”you never call me by my name “ David Allen Coe. After you had your stroke and I came up to the ICU to visit you, I played that song. Gary was somebody who loved pictures, especially pictures that had his daughters in them After the fire When he no longer had pictures I went through all the Facebook pages you had and made copies of pictures and gave them to him. He loved his daughters and I’ll never forget the night that his grandson was born when every 15 minutes I got a text telling me when Danielle was gonna have this baby and when that would be as he was excited. I also never knew a man that love to decorate like Gary did whether it be Halloween whether it would be Christmas he love to decorate. After the fire he lost his decorations so after this last Christmas i replaced two things that he had, I went and replaced his L and his D ornaments to stand for his two daughters. Gary loved the way he knew how to love and he loved his daughters. He missed his family that had already passed and I like to think that when his mother came to take his hand, he was able to say I missed you mom. Gary I will treasure you writing me and saying not long ago. Kim you’re the best friend I ever had. Whenever I think of Gary, I think of this song Free Bird If I leave here tomorrow Will you still remember me ? For I must be traveling on now Cause there so many places I have to see If I stay here with you all Things just couldn’t be the same I’m as free as a bird now And this bird you cannot change Lyndsey and Danielle I’m truly sorry I will miss you ! Kim