Edward Fornusek Jr.

Edward Frank Fornusek Jr., age 70, of Bannister, MI, passed away at home after a short battle with cancer, on Thursday, April 1, 2021 surrounded by his family.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Cyril's Catholic Church, Bannister, MI, on Tuesday, April 6, 2021 at 10:00 A.M., with Rev. Fr. Ronald J. Essman officiating.  Burial will take place at Ford Cemetery Gratiot County, MI. Visitation will be held on Monday, April 5, 2021 from 2-8 P.M. at Smith Family Funeral Homes, Elsie, MI. A Prayer Service will be held at 6:30 P.M. and a Lodge Service will be held at 7:00 P.M. at the funeral home. Masks will be required at the funeral home for visitation and at the church for the funeral mass.

Edward was born in St. Johns, MI on November 29, 1950, the son of Edward Sr. and Alice (Hrncharik) Fornusek.  He was a 1968 graduate of Ovid-Elsie High School and served with the U.S. Army in the 57th MP Company at West Point.  Edward married his wife Joanne (Ward) on November 11, 1972, in Cornwall, NY.  He worked for the CSX Railroad, the U.S. Postal Service and was a sales representative for Western Fraternal Life.  He was a lifelong member of the Bannister ZCBJ Lodge #225 and St. Cyril's Catholic Church. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, camping, attending his granddaughters' school activities and working in his vegetable garden. During the Ashley Country Christmas he served as postmaster, sending all of the children’s' letters to the North Pole.

He is survived by his wife of 48 years along with his children: Ed and Donnielle Fornusek of Bannister, MI, and Amy Fornusek of Houghton Lake, MI. He is also survived by granddaughters: Christa and Rachel Fornusek of Bannister, MI, sister Carol Ann and John Snyder of Owosso, MI, brother-in-law Joseph and Anne Leigh Ward of Scarsdale, NY and nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, parents-in-law Joseph and Sheila Ward, daughter Karen, sister-in-law Mary Albarino of Cornwall, NY and nephew Douglas Strachota of Owosso.

Memorials may be made to the Bannister ZCBJ Lodge #225 or to a Charity of the Donor's Choice. Online condolences can be made at www.smithfamilyfuneralhomes.com. The family is being served by Smith Family Funeral Homes, Elsie, MI.