Ron and Susan Lasinski
A Veteran's Life Story
This month we celebrate Veterans who continue to secure our freedom. If you are a veteran, I thank you for your service. And, if you live here in Oakhurst, it's hard to miss all the American flags that go up throughout the year beginning on Memorial Day through Veterans Day. As a member of the Clarkston Area Optimists Club, I consider it a privilege to show my patriotism and decorate our neighborhood with nearly 150 American flags.
I have met many of you in the neighborhood while doing so and that's how I met Ron and his wife Susan in June while putting up flags on Ardsley Court. He was taking out his trash when he greeted me, mentioned he was a veteran and wondered how he could get a flag too. In a matter of minutes, a flag was flying in his front yard. If you would like one too, read to the end and find out how you can participate in 2025.
It is also a privilege for me to share Ron and Susan's story with all of you during this month of thanksgiving and gratitude. I hope you have an opportunity to meet the Lasinski's because they are so happy to live here in the condos and be so close to family. Let me begin:
Ron served in the Army and their life together began the day basic training was completed. He was with a few of his army buddies, roaming the streets of Saugatuck on the west side of the state. It was September of 1964. To be honest, they were looking for girls. After all, they just finished basic training and September afternoons are so beautiful. There they were. Susan and her friend were walking down the street after stopping in Saugatuck on a road trip intended to end at Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Yes, you guessed it: Ron and Susan began dating when she returned. They were married the following summer in July at St. Agatha's Catholic Church in Redford, Michigan.
Born and raised in Michigan, Ron has always lived within 47 miles of his birthplace, Hamtramck. He began high school at De La Salle but graduated from St. Cyril where he transferred to enroll in engineering classes. After he finished basic training, Ron worked on radios in the army during his service in the National Guard as a M.O.S. (Military Occupational Specialty Communication Specialist 4th Class from 1963 to 1969. Remember those friends he was with when he met Susan? They stayed together, meeting for lunch every Tuesday and still today, Ron and Dan meet in Rochester at O'Conners for lunch, with a friendship that has passed the test of time.
Ron and Susan settled down in Warren where they started their family. They have three grown children with families of their own: Michael, Janet and Jennifer. They made memories in Rochester at a home in the Twin Lakes Golf Club neighborhood and moved to Oakhurst about two years ago when their daughter Janet encouraged them to move down the street when a condo went up for sale. Janet lives here with her husband Chris Kostiz and two of their grandchildren. They love it here and told me after having larger homes, their condo is just the right size! Ron and Susan have 6 grandchildren, 4 boys and 2 girls, ranging in age from 27 to 16 years old.
A.S.E. AND MORE
After he left the army, Ron started A.S.E. Co. (Automation Service Equipment) in 1972. The company's goal" "Meet Today's Automation Needs with Automatic Parts Handling Systems That Can Keep Up with the Future." ASE was ahead of its time, ..."established by leaders in the field of automated mechanical handling equipment, and represented over 100 years of experience and education. ASE's high quality automated parts handling and storage systems are of superior design and durable materials. Their use has proven to many manufacturers that the best is the most economical when all costs are taken into consideration.
GOLF AND MORE GOLF
Ten years later, Ron sold his company on Pinewood Avenue in Warren and found himself retired at a very early age of 41 years old. The Pinewood Invitational was founded shortly after Ron sold ASE in 1982. It is held up north every year and still takes place today. After was time for a second career. He tried real estate, working with a classmate, only he didn't like it much. Next, he tried the financial hat and again, wasn't in love with what he was doing. Then he met Mike Bylen who wanted to build a golf course and loved the idea. He was an engineer, after all. He has since built a bridge on Pine Trace in 1987 and another bridge on Cherry Creek in 1994.
HOLES IN ONE X FOUR!
Ron has had not one, not two, not three - but four holes in one! His first hole in one was at Pine Trace Golf Course which opened in 1989 and where he played 5 days a week. Two of his hole in ones were at Cherry Creek Golf Course which opened in 1994 and another was at Paint Creek Golf Course. Shepherd's Hollow Golf Course was the 3rd course he built in 2000 and so many family dinners have been held there with fond memories. The beautiful banquet facilities there will soon be replicated at Pine Trace during its 2025 shut down to renovate the course and add its own beautiful banquet facility.
PARTNERS FOR LIFE
Ron and Susan are partners in life and in golf. They have played together all over the world and a couple favorite places have been Pebble Beach in Monterey, California and on Maui in the Hawaiian Islands. Ron and Susan's son, Michael recently became a member of the Olympia Fields Country Club in the Chicago suburbs and Ron would like to play 18 holes together there and here at Oakhurst when they can.
CELEBRATING 50 YEARS TOGETHER
In 2015, Ron and Susan went on a cruise to Alaska to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. They didn't go alone. They had some friends join them who married the week before they did back in July of 1965. What a memorable trip. The saw polar bears and orcas that took their breath away. Wouldn't you agree that so many moments are better when shared with others. As 2025 approaches, so does their 60th wedding anniversary.
HEART OF THE HOME
Ron and Susan love living here. Susan has such fond memories in the house while they raised their kids. Endless hours were spent in the kitchen, baking, cooking, cleaning and making memories. Good times. Today, she opens the condo windows and listens to the music of the neighborhood: kids laughing and playing, squealing and reminding her of how much joy kids bring everyday. There's much to be said about the quiet time too but Ron can't remember living in a friendlier neighborhood. He hit the jackpot moving to Ardsley Court where neighbors gather once a month in the Kilpatrick driveway to catch up and say hello.
DIXIE LANDING DAYS
There were three family dogs but only Dixie gets rave reviews. She was a Wheaten Terrier and their favorite. She was a great dog, part of the family from day one and smart as a tack. Dixie didn't fool anybody. Susan told me Dixie knew she wasn't allowed on the couch, but whenever they came home in the evening, Dixie would see the headlights from the car pulling into the driveway and jump off the couch. She was in the spotlight and never thought she would get caught. She would always let herself out and if the kids forgot to bring her back in, she was ok with it. She wouldn't bark, but just sit by the door and wait for someone to remember she was still outside. She was loved and missed when that day came.
SWEET AND SAVORY HAPPY HOLIDAYS
As the holidays approach, Ron remembers Susan's stuffed cabbage and her walnut tart cookies. The house was always full of family for turkey on Thanksgiving and Susan's homemade kielbasa at Christmas that Ron's mom taught her how to make. Ron also loves Susan's potato pancakes. Gone are the days when the stand up freezer was stocked full of delicious homemade meals to keep the kids happy and healthy. These days, they enjoy a filet about once a week with some garlic mashed potatoes and corn on the cob.
COOKIE EXCHANGE DECEMBER 12
This month's Resident Recipe is featuring Susan's Christmas holiday cookie. In fact, Kelly's Richardson Agency with Farm Bureau Insurance is sponsoring a Christmas Cookie Exchange on Thursday, December 12th. If you would like to participate, check out the Events page for more information or just ask me the next time you see me. Kelly and I want to fill a cookie tin for Susan and a cookie tin for Ron to help them celebrate this year's Christmas season.
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
Ron is a member of the American Legion and enjoyed his time participating in the Memorial Day festivities on Lake Oakland as part of the Honor Guard. He is also a member of the Eagles and would like to become more involved in veteran events today, but has recently been sidelined due to an uncooperative hip that prevents him from standing for long periods of time.
I'm so glad Ron reached out to me this summer so we could meet and I could add him to the Flags for Kids! I appreciate the opportunity to put a flag up in his yard for all of the flag holidays, but especially for Veterans Day.