Robert Gorski

Born on Dec. 15, 1943, in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, Bob was the son of Mitchell Alban Gorski and Emilia “Milly” Veronica (Moskaluk) Gorski, both originally from Montreal. He grew up in Windsor and attended Gordon McGregor grade school and Walkerville Collegiate Institute. Bob went on to graduate from Ferris State College (now University) in Big Rapids, Michgian, with a Bachelor of Science degree in pharmacy. He loved becoming a U.S. citizen but was always fond of his Canadian roots.

It was at Ferris that Bob met his future wife, Phyllis Wickstrom, also a pharmacy student from Laurium. Phyllis first noticed Bob in an anatomy lab, shaking hands with a skeleton, joking with his friends. She was drawn to his fun-loving, lightheartedness and his good looks. After five years of on-and-off-again dating, they married on June 26, 1971, and were married for 54 years. Their wedding bands were engraved with “My Bud,” reflecting their start as “just buddies.” Bob was very easy to live with, easy to please and was kind and fun.

Bob’s pharmacy career began at Hotel Dieu in Windsor, followed by Sinai Hospital in Detroit, and continued for 25 years with Kmart Corporation and later with Walmart, both in Troy, Michigan. He also often filled in as a pharmacist in Houghton when visiting Phyllis’s family in Laurium. He lived by the philosophy taught by his pharmacist Uncle Barney, “If you can’t wait on someone cheerfully, don’t wait on him at all.” He loved his customers.

For 52 years, Bob and Phyllis lived in Troy before settling in Laurium for the last two years. Bob was kind, humorous, content, grateful and patient. Never one to chase material things, he found happiness in the little pleasures–especially vanilla ice cream, later Cherry Garcia, holding his wife’s hand watching TV or while walking around the neighborhood, dancing in the kitchen, or time with friends and family.

He often refused overtime at work. Making lots of money was not important to him. He “spent that time” instead by spending time with those he loved, especially his children.

Bob was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather. His sons Rob and David were the pride of his life. He took them on father-son fishing trips staying in a simple tent–even when they were still in diapers. He was actively involved in their sports, particularly hockey. He would do anything for them. He was very athletic throughout his life, his sons now continuing. The three had a great trip to Alaska while Rob worked there as a guide, with Bob sleeping in a leaking tent. “So Gorski!”

Bob adored his four grandchildren–Annabelle, August, Alice, and Arthur–and was lovingly called “Dziadziu,” the Polish term for grandpa. He was also part Ukrainian. He loved showing them nature photos on his phone and seeing their activities when he could.

Bob played hockey himself well into adulthood, he loved fishing with his close buddies, playing golf, and participated in church league softball. He loved gym workouts even when weaker with his Parkinson’s, with Phyllis standing nearby to help him if needed with permission. He was never embarrassed by his disease. He pressed on. He loved running in earlier years and watching his favorite Detroit teams: the Red Wings, Pistons, and Tigers. 

He and Phyllis traveled over the years, starting with a five-week honeymoon in Europe, with Eurail train passes, and the book Europe on “5 Dollars A Day. 1971!” Great fun and adventure even when sleeping on benches in a train station in expensive Zurich, sharing bathrooms and cockroaches with strangers in France, a berth with strangers on a boat to England, and renting a couchette to sleep in on a train to Nice, hiding their little money under a pillow. They found that they were both very flexible people. 

Bob’s Christian faith deepened over the years. He didn’t talk Christianity, he lived it. He was not ashamed to kneel by the couch in earnest “couch prayer” with Phyllis, for others. He chose “James” as his adult confirmation name, inspired by the prayerful apostle. Bob’s knees were failing, but he wished he could kneel more like Saint James. While attending Troy Baptist Church, he chaperoned spring break trips, whitewater rafting adventures including repelling, and summer camp. He and Phyllis served on the Mission Board of Troy Baptist and were sponsors on youth mission trips to Mexico and Guatemala. He had a special connection with teens. The spiritual journey ended with becoming Catholic in 2006 and loving it.

Bob was musical at his core. He played or sang in tune. Great rhythm. He played the saxophone, clarinet, piano, and even once filled in on drums. He “inherited” a specific family whistle from his dad and often whistled as he went about his day. As a child, he performed in piano competitions, Stars of Tomorrow, and piano duets with his sister Lucy. He was a great dancer and especially loved music with a beat–Michael Jackson was a favorite.

Bob is preceded in death by his parents; grandparents, Leo Peter and Julia Gorski and Anthony “Tony” and Rose (Kotyk) Moskaluk; brothers- and sisters-in-law, Ronald Herniman, Gary and Marjorie Wickstrom, Eugene “Joe” Christie, Eugene “Gene” Penzien, Ronald Jones, and Linda Wickstrom; and nephew, Michael Rohrer.

He is survived by his loving wife, Phyllis Ruth (Wickstrom) Gorski; sons, Dr. Robert Mitchell Gorski, Jr. of San Francisco, California, and David Arthur Gorski (Julie) of Darien, Connecticut; and grandchildren, Annabelle Ruth, August Paul, Alice Virginia, and Arthur Robert from Darien. He is also survived by his sister, Carolyn “Lucy” (Gorski) Herniman, currently of Waterloo, Ontario, but formerly from Windsor; his brother, Brian Edward “Ed” Gorski (Cynthia) of Windsor, Ontario; and many Wickstrom brothers and sisters-in-law, Gail, Judy Christie, Mary Penzien, Fay Jones, and James and Joy Ziemnick. Bob leaves behind wonderful fun cousins, numerous nieces, nephews, godchildren, and many dear friends, including his lifelong friend from high-school, Arthur Stoyshin.

Phyllis patiently and lovingly cared for Bob through the latest, hardest years, calling it exhausting, but also considered it a great honor and privilege to “love on him.” Til death do us part! Bob never gave up on things in life and he never gave up in the end until God called him home. He lived a full, faithful, grateful and joyful life–he was thankful for all that he had and he left a lot of good memories to those who loved him. We’ll smile, chuckle and laugh as we remember him fondly. 

A Funeral Mass for Robert M. Gorski will be held at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Calumet, at 11 a.m. Friday July 25, 2025, with a one hour visitation at the church prior to Mass. 

There will also be a visitation at Erickson Crowley Peterson Funeral Home in Calumet, from 4-7 p.m. on Thursday, July 24, 2025, with a prayer service from Father Gracious Pulimoottil at 5 p.m. 

Bob’s remains will be buried in the Lakeview Cemetery, Section 37, in Calumet. after his Funeral Mass.

An additional Memorial Mass will be held in the fall 2025 at Christ, Our Light! Catholic Church in Troy. for Canadian and Detroit area friends and relatives. The details will be posted online at ericksoncrowleypeterson.com in September.

In lieu of flowers, please give to a charity of your choice or to the Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN. 55905. Designating: Lewy body research