Jan Alan Golisek, Sr., age 79, of Munising, died in his family’s home in Brown’s Addition under the loving care of his family and North Woods on Wednesday morning, September 16, 2026. Jan was born in Marquette on May 10, 1947 to Carl and Lois (Credland) Golisek. He grew up hunting, fishing, gathering, and spending summers on Grand Island at the family camp with his parents and siblings. Jan married Ellen “Sue” Martin on August 6, 1966 and together they raised their four children. He learned to weld, repair engines, restore cars, and build everything imaginable from toys and furniture to houses throughout his life. Fishing on the big lake and inland lakes both summer and through the ice in the winter was a passion – along with classic cars, firearms, snowmobiles, motorcycles, and boats he collected, restored, built from parts, and/or traded vehicles. Jan and his brother David started the first shipwreck diving business in Munising through an alliance with Northern Michigan University in 1971 – building a raft and engine to hold parties of fifteen divers from around the country – diving on the Smith Moore and Herman Hettler most summer weekends for several years. For thirty years, Jan was the City of Munising’s mechanic. He purchased and maintained vehicles, snowplows, and other equipment. Jan and his wife Sue were “snowbirds” to the desert southwest for eighteen years post-retirement. Where he picked up flint knapping and lapidary skills, making knives and jewelry, tabletops and wall plaques from unique stones. Jan carved life-sized models of all the native species of fish around Lake Superior using basswood he cut from his daughter’s property. He was man gifted with an artistic eye, extraordinary skills, and diverse interest. One of Jan’s many joys were exploring the U.P. woods with Sue, digging leeks in the spring, foraging mushrooms, picking berries, finding burls to carve and turn into bowls, camping, and enjoying the change of seasons and wildlife. There is not a room in Jan and Sue’s home that doesn’t display his prolific art and crafts conveying his interests in natural and local history. Just like his parents and six siblings, Jan loved his family and instilled a deep appreciation for the U.P. in his four children, ten grandchildren, and small army of extended family and friends. To most that have had the pleasure of knowing this kind and fascinating human being, Jan has not only carved Superior’s fish, he is a “big fish” in our neck of the woods.

Jan is survived by his loving wife of over sixty years – Ellen “Sue” Golisek of Munising; their children – Jan (Tina Mannisto) Golisek, Jr. of Christmas, Brenda (Howard, Jr.) Mannisto of Munising, and Deserée (Nathan LaFernier) Bosely of Shingleton; grandchildren – Kendra Golisek, Michael Golisek, Jan Golisek III, Emily Mannisto, Stephanie Mannisto, Hanna (John Dartt) Mannisto, Ally (Thomas Richardson) Houle, Henry Bosely, Selby Beauchaine,, Margaret Beauchaine, Jordan Beauchaine, Molly Beauchaine, Sydney Bonneau; son-in-law – Terry Beauchaine; siblings – Mike (Sharon) Golisek, Sr., Cynthia (Lou) Kuston, Rebecca (Luc) Marti, Debra (Rick) LaPlant, and Lisa (Jerry) Nankervis; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents Carl and Lois Golisek, daughter Nancy Beauchaine, granddaughter Olivia Bosley, and brother David Golisek.

Private family services will be held.