Lawrence Slepsky

Lawrence Slepsky, 85, passed away quietly in his sleep, on January 23, 2016. He was preceded in death by his loving wife of 60 years, Lottie Slepsky. Lawrence was born in 1930 to the late George and Caroline Slepsky and resided in Melvindale, MI until he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1948 at the age of 18. As a United States Marine in King Battery, 4th Battalion, 11th Marines, First Marine Division in the Korean War in 1950, he was involved in the landing at Inchon, the liberation of Seoul Korea, and in one of the Marines most epic battles, the Battle at the Chosin Resevoir, at the North Korean and Chinese boarder near the Yalu River. There, in November/December of 1950, in a month of continuous sub-zero temperatures with -70 degree wind chill, in mile-high, snow-covered mountains, on a one-lane mountain road, without proper winter clothing, 12,000 U.S. Marines were totally surrounded by three Chinese Army Corps of 120,000 Chinese soldiers whose mission was total annihilation of the 1st Marine Division. The 1st Marine Division fought their way out of the mountains to the sea while nearly annihilating the three enemy Army Corps. King Battery veterans received five battle stars, two Presidential Unit Citations, and two Korean Presidential Unit Citations. Lawrence would often recant in his later years to his children, grandchildren and others that “They (the Chinese) never had a chance”. The United States Marine Corps motto Semper fidelis, meaning “always faithful”, “always loyal”, as well as their mantra of honor, commitment, and courage, went on to become his own. He passed this philosophy to his children and grandchildren, students, and athletes as he traversed his long life. Lawrence attained three college degrees, in what was a unique and likely unduplicated manner in that all of the three college degrees he attained were from the same college with three different names. These included a Bachelor of Arts from Eastern Michigan Normal, a Master’s in Education from Eastern Michigan College, and a Specialist in Education from Eastern Michigan University. Lawrence’s first education assignment was in Willow Run public schools where his impact on students was so profound and sustained that his former students continued to regularly call on him into his last years, with sincere appreciation and respect. Later, Lawrence started and headed Washtenaw Community College’s Physical Education Department and became the first Athletic Director of Washtenaw Community College’s Collegiate Athletic Program. As a result of his influence on community college athletic programs and many years as coach of the Washtenaw Community College Baseball Team, countless numbers of athletes, whose initial and primary motivations were to compete in athletics, found themselves immersed in community college academics, attaining associate degrees, then bachelors degrees and beyond. Lawrence was lifetime avid hunter and fisherman, and spent his retirement years in those endeavors at his favorite northern Michigan retreat on Houghton Lake (Michigan). In retirement Lawrence and his beloved wife Lottie reconnected in yearly reunions with his fellow Marines of King Battery and the rest of the 1st Marine Division in a unique camaraderie that only those who have done battle and hardship together and depended on each other for their survival can understand. Lawrence is survived by his four children, Peter and fiancé (June), Timothy, and Michael Slepsky, his daughter Ann Glover and husband (Tim), and five grandchildren Dana (Luke), Paige and Perrin Slepsky, and Matthew (Ashley) and Brian Glover. A memorial graveside service with military honors for Lawrence and his late wife Lottie will be held at Great Lakes National Cemetery in Holly, MI, on Friday, February 26, 2016 from 12:30 P.M. to 1:00 P.M. A celebration of life luncheon will follow the service. Arrangements entrusted to Robison-Bahnmiller Funeral Home of Saline. In lieu of flowers a contribution of a toy to the Marine Corps Toys For Tots in December may be made. Condolences and any anecdotes or stories (serious or otherwise) regarding either Lawrence or Lottie, would be deeply appreciated and cherished as well. They can be entered on his obituary tribute wall at www.rbfhsaline.com or sent to 299 Highland Dr. Saline, MI 48176. Lawrence’s final message to his family, friends, neighbors, students, baseball players, and especially to King Battery (K/4/11) is simply: SEMPER-FI

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Lawrence Slepsky

August 20, 1930 - January 23, 2016