BWAA Past President, Hall of Famer Joe Antczak dies

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Joseph Frank Antczak, who served as Bowling Writers Association of America President in 1978 and received the organization’s Mort Luby Jr. Hall of Fame Award in 1995, died June 14 at St. Ann’s Home here. He was 88.

Antczak, the youngest child of Frank and Harriet (Dostatnia) Antczak, was the 1939 salutatorian of Davis Technical High School and a World War II veteran. His 44-plus-year relationship with The Grand Rapids Press began as a paper boy and concluded as an award-winning bowling editor in 1984.

While Antczak wrote about sports, he also enjoyed participating. He was 1960 city novice men's singles tennis award winner, and won Press Golf and Bowling League championships. As a bowling journalist, he won 11 national writing awards in the Bowling Magazine Writing Competyition.

Antczak is survived by his wife of nearly 63 years, Rose (Wiktorowski); children Ruth (Antczak) and Roy Hein; Alice Antczak; Joyce (Antczak) and Fred Johnson; five grandchildren, one great-grandson, and a sister, Sophie (Antczak) Wanczuk.

A Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. at Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church, Grand Rapids on Wednesday, June 17. Visitation will be Tuesday, June 16 from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. at Arsulowicz Brothers Funeral Home - Remembrance Chapel.

In lieu of flowers the family requests to consider memorial contributions to St. Ann's Home, Catholic Information Center, or Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Grand Rapids.