Obituary

With great sadness, we share the obituary for Laurie Gomulka Palazzolo’s husband, Wallace C. Palazzolo (“Wally”).

We offer our deepest sympathy and prayers to Laurie and her family during this difficult time. May he rest in eternal peace.

Wallace C. Palazzolo, “Wally”

Wallace Charles Palazzolo was born in Detroit on November 5, 1945, to Ann Marie (DePonio) Palazzolo and Nicolas J. Palazzolo. He passed peacefully in the early evening of November 2, with his wife Laurie at his side and surrounded by family. He had been challenged by Parkinson’s disease but accepted every obstacle with grace and dignity.

He is survived by his wife Laurie A. (Gomulka) Palazzolo; two daughters, Lisa A. Madden (Geoff) and Carly M. Oliverio (John); grandchildren Samantha (David), TJ, Ryan, Ava, John, and Fiona; great-grandchildren Wesley, Drake, and Anna; siblings Richard, Beverly Morey (Michael), Annette Coomber (Steve), John, and Thomas; and a multitude of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

After graduating from U of D Jesuit High School, Wally attended Wayne State University, where he studied engineering. He was a member of the Theta Tau Professional Engineering Fraternity (Epsilon Beta Chapter), to which he belonged throughout his life. In June of 1968, Wally graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering. He subsequently was hired by Chrysler and worked at their Defense Plant in Warren.

Wally married Patricia Ann Benaggio on May 10, 1969. They had two daughters together, Lisa Ann and Carly Marie.

Wally then went to work at Ford in Dearborn, where he immediately felt at home. His grandfather DePonio, whom Wally admired, had worked there during the Great Depression, first as a laborer and then as a skilled carpenter. His carpentry work was so impressive that he became a chief carpenter and worked on the carpentry in Henry Ford’s office.

Wally was a proud and devoted Ford employee. For 38 years, he was head of the dynamometer lab, where he directed engine testing.

He moved to the City of Farmington in 1985 and married Laurie A. Gomulka in 1991. They bought their home in Farmington in 1992 and loved to travel locally, hike, camp, canoe, and watch hockey games together. They formed their Neighborhood Watch group together in 1992.

Wally’s hobbies included hockey, nature photography, and firearms training, target practice, and instruction. He played hockey with the Ford pickup league in the position of left defenseman. After retirement, when he could no longer play hockey, he began skating at the Farmington Hills Ice Arena’s mid-day skating sessions.

Nature photography became an avocation. Wally studied with Farmington Hills nature photographer Monte Nagler (a student of Ansel Adams) and went on to teach dozens of workshops at the Troy Nature Center and at Higgins Lake. He formed his own nature photography company, Lone Oak Photos, named for his favorite subject, an old oak tree in Kensington Nature Center, which he photographed in all seasons.

He also exhibited his work, and his photographs were featured by the Farmington Arts Commission at an artist’s exhibit. Ford Motor Company’s photographic department mounted dozens of Wally’s photographs and displayed them throughout their engineering buildings.

Above all, Wally loved firearms target practice, training, and instructing. When he was young, Nick took him several times to Edgewater Park, an amusement park at Seven Mile and Burt Road. There were many arcades at the park, including a rifle range. Wally learned how to shoot a rifle at the range, which led to his lifelong love of firearms.

He was a Lifetime Member of the NRA. He held memberships and certifications in the USPSA (United States Practical Shooting Association), IDPA (International Defensive Pistol Association), and BSA (Boy Scouts of America) Youth Protection. He was most proud of his NRA RSO (Range Safety Officer) certification and taught many police officers how to shoot and safely handle firearms. One of the courses he loved to teach was the Women On Target course.

Wally was a member of the Livingston Gun Club for nearly 25 years and helped run the matches at the club, in addition to teaching Hunter Safety courses. In 2023, he proudly claimed all the above credentials and wrote that, as a 77-year-old great-grandfather, he had been shooting for more than 50 years. It was a sad day when he had to relinquish his Michigan Concealed Pistols License, which he had held since January 2002.

Wally was a resident of West Bloomfield at the time of his passing but spent his final years at StoryPoint of Farmington Hills assisted living facility, where he was cared for by their extraordinarily loving staff, his wife Laurie, and four private caregivers, Evelyn Deekae, Yolanda Hensler, Aleksandr Novikov, and Moses Ssonko.

The Palazzolo family will receive friends Friday, November 20, 5-8 pm at the funeral home with a scripture service starting at 7 pm.

A funeral Mass celebrating Wally’s life will be Saturday, November 21, 10 am (in state 9:30 am), Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church, 23815 Power Rd, Farmington.

Immediately following Mass, you may meet his family at St. Hedwig Cemetery, Dearborn Hts, for cemetery committal prayers at 12 pm.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the American Parkinson Disease Association at Memorial and Tribute Gifts | American Parkinson Disease Association. Please use the link provided to make your donation.

Please keep the Palazzolo family in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.

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