Joe "Sqeaky" Kulik

Joe “Sqeaky” Kulik, age 78, passed away on Saturday, May 16, 2026, surrounded by the love of his family. Joe was born on June 24, 1947, and will be remembered not only for his accomplishments, but for the kind of person he was to everyone around him. Joe was the beloved husband of Sandi Kulik for 60 years and a proud father to Jeff Kulik (Paula) and Jody Kulik (Kirsten). He was a loving grandfather to Destinee, Jacob, Chase, and Skye, and great-grandfather to Aireeyona, Kannin and Kendall, all of whom brought tremendous joy to his life. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ted and Theresa Kulik and his uncle, Chester Blaszcik. Joe dedicated 42 years as a Millwright at the Ford Motor Company before retiring, but his life was defined far more by his willingness to help others. If you were lucky enough for Joe to call you a friend, then you knew he would always have your back. He was the kind of person who always had advice, knew exactly who to call, or could point you in the right direction no matter what you needed. Somehow, Joe had a special gift for connecting people together and making everyone feel welcome. Whether it was family, lifelong friends, coworkers, or someone he had just met, Joe treated people like they mattered. Walking into the local bar with Joe felt like a scene from the Cheers television show, everybody knew him, and everyone had a story about him. Outside of work, Joe had a lifelong passion for cars and drag racing. A talented and dedicated racer, he earned numerous national titles through the National Hot Rod Association and International Hot Rod Association, Multiple track championships at both Milan and Detroit Dragway’s, and set multiple world records throughout his racing career. Joe will be deeply missed for his loyalty, generosity, humor, and larger-than-life presence. The memories, friendships, and connections he created throughout his life will continue to live on in all who knew and loved him. A Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, June 5th from 4:00 P.M. to 10:00 P.M. at the Van Buren Eagles, 9961 Beck Road, Belleville, MI 48111. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Joe’s name may be made to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation https://www.cff.org/donate To leave a memory you have of Joe or to sign his guestbook please visit www.rbfhsaline.com

Tributes

Joe "Sqeaky" Kulik

June 24, 1947 - May 16, 2026