Phyllis W. Oleksink

Phyllis W. Oleksink, née Swartzback, passed away on September 10, 2026, in Wyandotte, Michigan, the city where she was also born on March 6, 1935. She lived a long life marked by devotion, steady work, simple pleasures, and the enduring bonds of family.

Phyllis was a dedicated and hardworking woman who spent more than 50 years with Learners Clothing in Lincoln Park, Michigan, retiring after a remarkable career which included being a manager. Her many years of service reflected her commitment, reliability, and pride in a job well done. She gave much of herself through her work, and that lasting dedication stands as an important part of her life’s story.

Beyond her career, Phyllis found happiness in the everyday moments that brought comfort and connection. She enjoyed playing Scrabble, Dominoes and going to the Casino, pastimes that surely reflected both her spirit and her enjoyment of time shared with others. Travel was a meaningful part of her life. She and her husband, John, traveled extensively together, creating memories in France, Germany, Spain, the Netherlands, and Mexico. Those journeys speak to a life that embraced both companionship and curiosity.

Phyllis was preceded in death by her husband, John, and by her mother, Stella Swartzback. Their memory remained part of the life she carried forward.

She is survived by her niece, JoAnn (the late Gary) Chick; and by her cousins, Edwina (the late Charles) Stien, Tim (Mary Lou) Snellman, William (Mary Anna) Snellman, and Victoria (Edward) Szczerowski. She is also survived by many other loving family and friends. Phyllis leaves behind family who will remember her with affection and gratitude, and who will carry her memory with them in the years ahead.

She will be remembered for her faithfulness to the people and places that mattered to her, for her many years of hard work, and for the quiet joys that shaped her days. May her memory bring comfort to those who knew and loved her.

Memorial contriobutions may be made to Downriver for Veterans