Obituary of John Budny

December 27, 1946 – December 2, 2022

John W. Budny.  Age 75 of Grosse Ile.

John led a life of service and generosity.  He believed in being involved in the community, volunteering, and helping where, when, and however one is able to help.  John served with honor in the United States Navy as a medic in Vietnam.  He later went on to join the Grosse Ile Fire Department, serving his community as a medic and firefighter for fifty years. Probably his proudest achievement was answering the call for those fifty years. His wife, family, and fellow firefighters can certainly attest to his commitment to serving his community with selflessness, honor, and dignity for five decades. 

John had an appreciation of photography and the latest in tech-gadgets, and a particular love of camping. It doesn't take long to realize that much of his love of camping was because of the sense of community that is built. He was always willing to share camping tips with his family or anybody he could strike up a conversation with at the campground.  He was the wagon master. If a member of his family or a fellow camper encountered a problem, he would help you solve it, provide an "extra" piece of equipment he just happened to have lying around, or at least distract you with a good conversation.  Camping lead to some of the fondest memories between he and his wife, often leading to inside jokes and unforgettable experiences.

There was never an inconvenient time for him. It was ordinary for him to answer the 3:00 A.M. fire call.  It was ordinary for him to be at your house early in the morning to help with a project.  It was ordinary for him to stay until late at night when it was finally done.  It was also ordinary for the job to take slightly longer than necessary because John could not pass up the opportunity to catch up on what was happening with his family or to share a new tool, gadget, or tip he came across that could potentially help you elsewhere.  To be sure, he also enjoyed being on the receiving end of what was new gizmo you came across.  

John was a proud father and grandfather. Whether it was hitting the golf course, listening about your latest fishing catch, checking out your first car, attending an evening hockey game, going to a baseball game, watching a morning wrestling meet, heading to Canada for a rowing regatta, looking up newly discovered dinosaur fossils, playing princesses, or bragging about the latest classroom successes, he was always eager to participate and to boast about his sons and grandchildren.

John will be remembered and spoken of fondly.  Perhaps nothing will please him more than to look down from the Heavens and see somebody offering just one more cup of coffee, to open just one more drink around the campfire, or to allow just five more minutes past bedtime to tell just one more story.  He will be missed.

Beloved husband of Sharon Budny. Loving father of Mike (Leslie) Budny, Chris (Carla) Budny, Nate (Christina) Burns and Scott (Heather) Burns. Dearest grandfather of Celine, Devin and Ella Budny; and Matthew, Michael, Oscar, Lucas and Hazel Burns. Dear brother of James (Maureen) Budny, Jean (James) Dixon and Donald Budny. Preceded in death by his parents, William and Marion Budny and niece Jenna Dixon.

Memorial Contributions are appreciated to Vietnam Veterans of America or Grosse Ile Fire Department.

Cremation will take place at The On-Site Crematory located within the Molnar Funeral Homes - Brownstown Chapel.