Anthony Joseph Shemke

Tony came into the world on June 26, 1952, the third of six children born to Raymond and Ida “Edith” Shemke. He had great appreciation for his Italian and Kashubian heritage and, specifically for the origin of his Italian ancestors in Serramonacesca, a tiny mountain village above the coastal city of Pescara, to which he had traveled with his brother Joe during his college years. He dreamed of a return trip to Serramonacesca and took Italian classes for years in anticipation of that journey.

Growing up in the Shemke family household, Tony enjoyed great homecooked family dinners and thought provoking conversations that sometimes evolved into boisterous political arguments – always moderated by an abundance of love and respect for those who participated. Tony’s favorite expression was “Sempre Famiglia” – Italian for `family forever’ – which he frequently uttered loudly when departing family gatherings. Tony loved a good, loud family gathering.

After attending Wayne State University, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree, Tony lived in Detroit for a time before settling in Livonia. For more than 30 years, Tony worked for the Internal Revenue Service as a computer programmer (were he telling this story, Tony would ask that you not hold that against him – he was just the guy who wrote computer code, not the guy who audited you). Although he had never taken a computer programming class before going to work for Uncle Sam, Tony eventually grew into a great problem solver at the IRS. And solve those problems he did! He had innumerable ideas for how to better run the programming side of tax agency, and if you gave him half a chance, he’d tell you all of them in great detail.

Tony was proud to see his twin children, Christopher and Eeda, graduate Livonia Churchill High School and go off to college -- Chris to the University of Michigan-Dearborn and later, law school, and Eeda to Michigan State. Tony was strictly neutral – if you asked which side of the rivalry he was on, he’d tell you “Wayne State.”

Tony delighted in simple joys that took work. He liked making things with his hands, so he set up a wood shop in the basement of his Detroit home and eventually remodeled his kitchen, custom building all his cabinets from raw boards. He liked driving; on a free weekend he might hop in his car and cruise across the state to Muskegon and back. He loved a glass of the good stuff, oftentimes bourbon, but whatever was in the mix when everyone was having a good time was always fine with him.

No matter where his wheels took him, Tony always came home for family. He’d go to the birthday party of any niece or nephew who’d have him. When it came time to sing Happy Birthday, Tony would gleefully abandon the melody at fortissimo volume. Tony loved loudly, though not always on key.

In 2011, Tony got a promotion and became Grandpa Tony. He delighted in pushing swings and acting as a jungle gym for rambunctious toddlers. Sadly, dementia took much from Tony in his last years. The memories he held onto the longest were of his family – one thing that brought him out of his fog in those final months was being reminded that his son recently got married. It always made Tony brighten.

Tony is survived by his children, Christopher (Fawn Armstrong) Shemke, and Eeda (Derek) Wallbank, as well as his three grandchildren, Emma, Claire, and Ava. He will be dearly missed by his siblings Rae (Odie) Oldaugh, Maria Shemke, Joseph “Joe” (Heather) Shemke, and Daniel “Dan” (Amy) Shemke, as well as by all of the nephews and nieces he loved so dearly. Tony was preceded in death by his older brother, Allan, and his nephew Allan Klein, who died a hero in Iraq.

Tony’s family and friends will hold a private celebration of his life in Saline, Michigan. If you can hear the laughter and smell the mostaccioli, you’ve found the right house. They’ll raise a glass or two of the good stuff to Tony. And someday not too far from now, his kids will ensure that Tony receives a final return trip to Italy and Serramonacesca, where they’ll spread his ashes and he’ll rest eternally in the land of his family.