Jasiu Milanowski
(July 23, 1946 – September 13, 2015)
As morning broke Sunday September 13, 3015, Jasiu Milanowski (69) breathed his last in Hospice of Holland care at Medilodge, Holland, MI., with Kerry Shaffer, his wife, constantly at his side, and surrounded all week long with the love of many friends and family. At sunrise, Jasiu’s great journey of peace and non-violence ended. He was born July 23, 1946 to Wencel and Marguerite Milanowski . He attended St. Andrew Elementary School, Catholic Central High School (Class of ‘64) and Aquinas College. He founded Ammon Hennacy Catholic Worker House in Grand Rapids. He was a co-founder of meals for the homeless on Bridge Street, at Capitol Lunch, and now God’s Kitchen. In solidarity with other conscientious objectors to the war in Vietnam, he worked as an orderly at St. Mary’s Hospital. He was influential in founding the Calder Peace Protests, many peace groups in Grand Rapids, Holland, across the State, and beyond. He was a co-founder with Rev. C. Peter Dougherty of Michigan Faith & Resistance in the ‘80s , (later to become the Michigan Peace Teams in Lansing, and now the Meta Peace Team.) He was also instrumental in founding The Alliance for Ethnic & Cultural Harmony in Holland , MI., the Holland Peacemakers, and the Community Kitchen at Western Seminary. Jasiu was arrested and jailed for peaceful protests and non-violent civil disobedience in opposition to war, war taxes, and nuclear weapons.
Jasiu was preceeded in death by his parents, a brother David, and his sister Marcia Wible. He is survived by his wife Kerry, a son Brett (Christina); three brothers, Paul, Michael, and Stephen (Peggy) of Middleton, WI; two aunts; many nieces & nephews; stepchildren; and cousins. He began, and worked at Print Kwik. He loved skiing, and sailing his 36’ Eastern Inner Club, named Satyagraha (after Gandhi’s word for ‘soul-force’). The Friends Meeting (Quaker) of Holland held a special place in their life. He loved music, especially jazz, bluegrass and folk. He read widely and lived faithfully the words of the Sermon on the Mount, Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Jr., A.J. Muste, Walter Bergman, Franz Jaggerstatter, Gordon Zahn, Danilo Dolci, Lanza del Vasto, Dorothy Day, Eileen Egan, Daniel and Phillip Berrigan, Ammon HJasiu Milanowski
(July 23, 1946 – September 13, 2015)
As morning broke Sunday September 13, 3015, Jasiu Milanowski (69) breathed his last in Hospice of Holland care at Medilodge, Holland, MI., with Kerry Shaffer, his wife, constantly at his side, and surrounded all week long with the love of many friends and family. At sunrise, Jasiu’s great journey of peace and non-violence ended. He was born July 23, 1946 to Wencel and Marguerite Milanowski . He attended St. Andrew Elementary School, Catholic Central High School (Class of ‘64) and Aquinas College. He founded Ammon Hennacy Catholic Worker House in Grand Rapids. He was a co-founder of meals for the homeless on Bridge Street, at Capitol Lunch, and now God’s Kitchen. In solidarity with other conscientious objectors to the war in Vietnam, he worked as an orderly at St. Mary’s Hospital. He was influential in founding the Calder Peace Protests, many peace groups in Grand Rapids, Holland, across the State, and beyond. He was a co-founder with Rev. C. Peter Dougherty of Michigan Faith & Resistance in the ‘80s , (later to become the Michigan Peace Teams in Lansing, and now the Meta Peace Team.) He was also instrumental in founding The Alliance for Ethnic & Cultural Harmony in Holland , MI., the Holland Peacemakers, and the Community Kitchen at Western Seminary. Jasiu was arrested and jailed for peaceful protests and non-violent civil disobedience in opposition to war, war taxes, and nuclear weapons.
Jasiu was preceeded in death by his parents, a brother David, and his sister Marcia Wible. He is survived by his wife Kerry, a son Brett (Christina); three brothers, Paul, Michael, and Stephen (Peggy) of Middleton, WI; two aunts; many nieces & nephews; stepchildren; and cousins. He began, and worked at Print Kwik. He loved skiing, and sailing his 36’ Eastern Inner Club, named Satyagraha (after Gandhi’s word for ‘soul-force’). The Friends Meeting (Quaker) of Holland held a special place in their life. He loved music, especially jazz, bluegrass and folk. He read widely and lived faithfully the words of the Sermon on the Mount, Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Jr., A.J. Muste, Walter Bergman, Franz Jaggerstatter, Gordon Zahn, Danilo Dolci, Lanza del Vasto, Dorothy Day, Eileen Egan, Daniel and Phillip Berrigan, Ammon Hennacy, Hildegarde Goss-Mayr, Jim Douglas, Farley Mowatt, and many others.
Jasiu was faithful to his calling as a disciple of peace and non-violence. Peace was his clothing. Non-violence, his pen and voice, -mightier than the sword, gun, bomb and war. Racial and social justice were his well-worn shoes. Compassion, his cap. Gentleness, his belt. Catholic Worker hospitality was in his hands. ‘All we are saying is give peace a chance’ -his song. Love, his mission, message and the gospel in his heart.
Cremation was his wish. A celebration of Jasiu’s life took place Saturday, September 19, 2015 with Quaker prayer, story-telling and a peace meal at Ottawa Beach.
Please direct any memorials to (check out the website metapeaceteam.org )
Meta Peace Team, 2722 E. Michigan Avenue, Suite 101, Lansing, MI 48912-4000
ennacy, Hildegarde Goss-Mayr, Jim Douglas, Farley Mowatt, and many others.
Jasiu was faithful to his calling as a disciple of peace and non-violence. Peace was his clothing. Non-violence, his pen and voice, -mightier than the sword, gun, bomb and war. Racial and social justice were his well-worn shoes. Compassion, his cap. Gentleness, his belt. Catholic Worker hospitality was in his hands. ‘All we are saying is give peace a chance’ -his song. Love, his mission, message and the gospel in his heart.
Cremation was his wish. A celebration of Jasiu’s life took place Saturday, September 19, 2015 with Quaker prayer, story-telling and a peace meal at Ottawa Beach.
Please direct any memorials to (check out the website metapeaceteam.org )
Meta Peace Team, 2722 E. Michigan Avenue, Suite 101, Lansing, MI 48912-4000