Vincent Witkowski III
Passed Away on April 13, 2020
Vincent Witkowski III (Buggs), co-founder of the Michigan rock band Blue Ice, passed away at
home in Mesa, Arizona on April 13, 2020.
Born September 21, 1951 in Hamtramck, MI, he was the son of the late Vincent Jr. and Mary C.
Witkowski. He attended South Lake High School, Class of 1969. Buggs retired from the U.S.
Postal Service after 26 years. He never retired from the band though, and passed his passion
for guitar and music on to his son and granddaughters. Buggs was a lifelong Detroit Tigers
baseball fan – watch out Al Kaline, here he comes! When he wasn’t watching baseball or playing
guitar, he was surely working on his custom 1965 VW Beetle, Bug-o-Rama’s 2016 Coolest Bug
of the Year. Picking his grandkids up from middle school in his drop-top Ford Mustang GT,
laying rubber in the parking lot, and squealing away in a cloud of dust earned him the Coolest
Grandpa Ever award. Buggs was a force to be reckoned with. Never at a loss for words, he was
unapologetic in his opinions and always quick with a hilarious one-liner. His sense of humor was
unique and well-known, and will not be forgotten (much like the 5 bucks we all still owe him).
He accomplished many things during his lifetime. He had a great broadcasting voice and was a
radio DJ, gained his medical knowledge working at Bi County hospital, managed MPS
Warehouse in Fraser, MI, dabbled in business at Over Seas Automotive and Shaklee Vitamins,
was a union steward for NALC Arizona Merged Branch 1902, coached his son’s Little League
teams for years, dominated everyone in any trivia contest entered, hiked to Havasupai Falls at
the bottom of the Grand Canyon and howled up at the moon… His most treasured
accomplishment, however, was his relationship with his family and friends.
He is survived by his wife Judy, Booker the dog, daughter Selena (Adam) Sachse, son Vincent
Michael IV (Kim), grandchildren Deshawn, Abigail, and Isabella Sachse, and Abigail Witkowski.
Beloved King to brothers and sisters Yvonne Wilt, Jeffery Witkowski, Joan (Randy) Roskelly,
David (Tricia) Witkowski, Laurie (Kevin) Krim, sisters-in-law Kathy and Lois Horwood, and
nieces and nephews Jennifer, Tim, Daniel, Adriane, Stephanie, Andy, David Jr., Savanna,
Corrine, Mark, Krystal, Matthew, and great-nephews/niece Timmy, Aerielle, and Tristan. He is
preceded in death by his parents, his brother-in-law Tim Wilt, nephew Warren Shawhan, and
in-laws Paul and Dolores Horwood.
Private services will be held by the family at home.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Vince’s name can be made to St. Mary’s Food Bank:
602-343-3663
Online Memorial Donation Form
http://firstfoodbank.org/Tribute (printable form)
smfba.convio.net/VincentBuggsWitkowskiIIIFundDrive
Photos
Click Photo to Enlarge
R.I.P Vinny, I never got that JJ you owed me, so I’m considering us even.
It was your pleasure to know me. Love you always.
I’ll see you on the other side Ratface
Love you Soupy. I will miss you singing I’m to Sexy for My Route every morning at work. Having you call me rat face and our fondness for Soupy Sales. You are a great friend and will be sorely missed. God bless enjoy Tiger games in heaven. God bless your family. Love
My Cousin Vinny, My brother from another mother. Why is it that the good ones go so young? Sucks! Keep thumping that bass. Love ya man
I sure miss those day we worked next to each other at Sherwood Station. You were a great mentor to me, and you always paid attention, I’ll always remember your many sayings and jokes, many of which can’t be repeated in this forum. I was ever so fortunate to see you the last 2 years in August. Thanks for all those wonderful memories. You are missed by me and many, many others.
Loved working at Falcon Field with Vince, then he was our mailman at Aspen Ave. for quite some time. Our prayers are for family and friends, for God’s comfort, peace, and His blessings for you.
One whole year. 365 days without your voice or advice or crass humor, or swearing at the TV. It’s harder than I thought it would be. Life leaves little room to stop and reminisce these days, and the world is so upside down that there is no “normal” way to grieve. Your passing is as surreal today as it was one year ago. My brave face is cracking underneath, my sadness hidden by the need to just keep moving. I miss you, and you are missing so much here. My baby becomes a teenager tomorrow, and I’m going to be a grandma this year, and I’m finally changing careers, and I’m scared to death of all of it. I know you would just call me a crybaby 😄. Your Dad response was always “Well, Dolly, you just have to let go of it, you can’t control everything, it’ll work out the way it’s supposed to”, but it doesn’t resonate the same when I say it to myself. Some things you just need your dad for. I miss you daddy. I wish we had more time. I love you.