Stephen T. Kalisz

Stephen T. Kalisz of Cadillac was killed by a drunk driver on February 7 2025 in Cadillac. Born in Detroit on November 17, 1950 to Stefan and Isabelle Kalisz, Steve graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Forestry from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. He spent his career as a forestry management specialist with the Department of Natural Resources, providing sustainable forestry practices to landowners thereby helping to retain much private forest land in Northern Michigan. After 30 years with the State of Michigan in retirement he started Old School Forestry LLC, providing private consulting forestry services until his death. Steve met the love of his life one fall day in 1973, when he was asked to be the witness at his friend‘s elopement. It happened that Bev was asked to be the witness for the bride. After spending a few hours together that day Bev and Steve finally went on their first date on February 9th, 1974, a special day they celebrated each year. They married in Lincoln Park, Michigan on June 20, 1975, and spent the next 50 years as each other's confidant, soul mate, lover and best friend. They relished quiet evenings at home and at their cabin, listening to music, dancing…for the last time Tuesday night, in their dining room, before heading to bed. Steve spent many years coaching sports teams his kids played on, including CASA softball and baseball, basketball, travel teams, American Legion, as well as assistant coaching on varsity teams. He loved seeing and interacting with former players when a chance meeting happened in town. Most recently he was on the board of the local chapter of Trout Unlimited, and had been an active participant in the Cadillac Conservation Conservancy. Steve loved spending his days cutting firewood and traversing his own 120 acre woods in Hoxeyville. He planned to build a home there so he and Bev could live out their lives in the peaceful Hoxeyville forest. He will finally be able to rest in peaceful waiting for his beloved wife in his most favorite forest home. Steve’s passion was his children and grandchildren. He was extremely proud of their accomplishments: his first daughter a college English Professor and poet, his middle daughter a health resources project manager, his son an emergency medicine MD. But he was most proud of how they lived their lives: with kindness, morality, integrity, ethics and compassion. He was extremely proud of his grandchildren who brought enormous joy and laughter to his life. He often wondered how he got so lucky in life, to have the love of family and the joy that comes from interacting with the next generation. He especially loved to plan and take his grandsons hunting, watching them and his granddaughter excel in sports, FaceTiming on happy birthdays and cheek grinds, especially from Hudson. But by far Steve’s favorite time of year was fall, when he and his beloved son met in North Dakota to hunt ducks and pheasants. Steve loved music of any kind, listened to classic rewind, and had many Alexa playlists. He could name any song or artist and tie it to some special moment in his life. He was an avid birder, small game hunter; U of M sports fanatic and loved dogs and cats. He was tender-hearted to his core and had so much to live and look forward to before his life was taken. He was the patriarch of his loving family and will always remain in our hearts. Steve leaves behind his beloved wife of almost 50 years Beverly, his oldest daughter Katie Kalisz (Mike Schuler), his middle daughter Melanie Kalisz (Brian Rohde), and his son Matthew Kalisz (Ahna Van Gaest), six grandchildren: Maeve, Huck, Hudson, Hazel, Quinn and Oskar, his step-mother, Norma Kalisz, his faithful lab Axl and shy cat Panda. Visitation with Steve’s family will be Thursday, February 13, 2025 at Peterson Funeral & Cremation Services in Cadillac from 4:00 - 6:30 PM and a prayer service will follow at 6:30 PM led by Reverend Fr. Michael Janowski. The family will gather for a memorial mass and private burial in the spring. To honor Steve’s memory please consider planting a tree in the spring, remembering a great man who lived by the saying “The true meaning of life is to plant trees under whose shade you do not expect to sit.” An online guestbook is available at www.petersonfh.com.

Stephen T. Kalisz

November 17, 1950 - February 7, 2025