SOUTH NEW BERLIN – Pete Bida, 91, formerly of South New Berlin, died peacefully and comfortably on Jan. 12, 2008 in Berkley, Mich. surrounded by his loving family.
He was born in Hawkins, Wisc. on Feb. 29, 1916, the son of Sam and Kate (Kencyr) Bida.
After spending his very early years in Hawkins, his family moved to South New Berlin, to establish a profitable dairy, egg and produce farm during the depression. Pete also supported the family during this period by assisting the local butcher and performing odd jobs that built his great physical strength, positive work ethic and compassion to help others in need.
He was a graduate of South New Berlin School and varsity lettered in football, baseball and track. His athletic prowess earned him a boxing scholarship to the University of Idaho where he studied Mechanical Engineering. His most memorable experience at the U of I was a three round exhibition match with then heavyweight champion Max Baer.
World War II brought Pete to Detroit where he applied his knowledge, skills and abilities to design, develop and build custom tooling and dies used in the fabrication of aircraft and armored vehicle components. He mentored many tool and die apprentices in the development of progressive automotive dies including the late Stephen Yokich while at Heidrich Tool and Die in Oak Park. Pete was active in UAW Local 155 activities even after his retirement to help preserve and support the arsenal of democracy.
It was in Royal Oak that he met his soul mate, Grace. They were married in September of 1950 and raised four God fearing children in their Berkley home. Grace passed away unexpectedly on Sept. 23, 2005. They were members of Our Lady of La Sallette church and had just celebrated 55 years of wedded bliss. Together they shared their many cooking, hunting, fishing, sledding and skiing adventures with their children while building and enjoying a cottage with friends and family on Murphy Lake. Son Peter and his wife Barbara, son Gary and his wife Cheryl, daughter Kathy and her husband Louis Terhlen and daughter Patricia Bida survive him. He will be greatly missed by his ten grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, his dog, Suzy, and his cat, Charlie.
His sister-in-law Elma Bida of South New Berlin, sister-in-law Elizabeth Barbier of Oxford, Mich., sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Lorraine and Irvin Fox of Orlando, Fla. and several nieces, nephews and their families, also survives him.
He was predeceased by four sisters and four brothers, Eve DeForest of Sidney, Katherine Cole of Binghamton, Stella Lyons of South New Berlin, Mary, John, Frank and Paul Bida, of South New Berlin and Sam Bida of Ely, Nev.
Visitation will be from 3 to 9 p.m. Wednesday with memorial services at 6 p.m. at the Sawyer-Fuller Funeral Home, 2125 W. 12 Mile Rd., Berkley, Michigan. Inurnment service will be Thursday at 10 a.m. at Roseland Park Cemetery. Memorials, Berkley Animal Hospital.
Share your memories at www.sawyerfuller.com.