Richard Joseph ("Rick") Budnik

Richard Joseph Budnik, “Rick”, 84 of Tifton died Sunday, March 05, 2017 at Tifton Health and Rehabilitation Center.

A Memorial Mass will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Wednesday, March 8, 2017 at Our Divine Savior Catholic Church with Father Justin Ferguson officiating. A private interment will be held in Rogers City, Michigan.

Mr. Budnik was born on August 2, 1932 in Rogers City, Michigan to the late Julius and Theresa Kielizewski Budnik. Beginning when he was 16, he served on the Great Lake Freighters which carry bulk cargos on the Great Lakes. While living in Michigan for most of his life, Mr. Budnik enjoyed hunting, fishing, racing snow mobiles, playing golf and bowling. He married Carol Ruse Budnik in 1985 and together they lived in Tifton since 1987.

Mr. Budnik was a member of Our Divine Savior Catholic Church and lifelong member of the Knights of Columbus. He was instrumental in starting Council 10541 in Tifton. Mr. Budnik loved to cook and he put on many dinners for the Knights of Columbus and Our Divine Savior parish.

In addition to his wife, Mr. Budnik is survived by four daughters and one son-in-law, Linda Budnik, Deborah and Scott Stevenson, Sherry Schmits and Lisa Medici, all of Grand Ledge, MI; three sons and three daughters-in-law,  Kenneth and Kay Simpson of Scottsdale, AZ, William and Estelle Simpson of Pittsburgh, PA, and John and Alex Simpson of Palm Bay, FL; five grandchildren; six brothers and two sisters.

Mr. Budnik was preceded in death by one brother.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Our Divine Savior Catholic Church, 1205 Love Avenue, Tifton, Georgia 31794.