Deacon Michael E. Jankowiak, a permanent deacon of the Catholic Diocese of Saginaw, died on Saturday, March 18. The Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 25 at Blessed Sacrament Church, 3109 Swede Ave., in Midland. The Rev. Patrick Jankowiak, Deacon Michael's son, will be the celebrant. The Rite of Committal will follow at New Calvary Cemetery, 2743 East Bombay Rd. Midland.
Visitation will take place at Blessed Sacrament Church from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday, March 24. Deacon Michael will lie in state at the church from 10 a.m. until the time of the Funeral Mass on Saturday.
Deacon Michael was born July 10, 1939 in Bay City, Michigan, and is the son of the late Erwin and Dorothy (Brady) Jankowiak. He was raised in Midland and is a 1957 graduate of Midland High School. He attended Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, and graduated in 1962 with a Bachelor of Science degree in biochemistry. On Aug. 26, 1961 he married the former Judy Funk in Grand Rapids. She survives him.
Deacon Michael was ordained a permanent deacon on Sept. 10, 1981. He served the Diocese of Saginaw in a variety of ways for more than 35 years. In 1993, he began serving as business administrator at Blessed Sacrament Parish in Midland. He also served as business administrator at St. Anne, Edenville and St. Matthew, Zilwaukee. He was heavily involved in training, development and spiritual direction at the Toni and Trish House in Auburn. He worked for Dow Corning Corporation in Midland for nearly 30 years.