Reverend Daniel S. Rolik. January 10, 2016. Age 88 of Plymouth. Pastor at Hope Lutheran Church of Dearborn for 39 years. Beloved husband of Mary Lou and the late Shirley. Loving father of Scott (Lisa), Geoffrey (Christine), Stephanie (John) Herrle and Tracy Everingham. Dear Grandfather of Amanda and Scott Rolik, Sarah, Sean and Andrew Herrle. Dear brother of the late Milan and Lydia. Funeral Thursday 11:00am at Hope Lutheran Church of Dearborn, Instate 10:00am. Visitation Wednesday 1:00 - 9:00pm at the Dearborn Chapel of Howe-Peterson Funeral Homes. Burial at Glen Eden Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Hope Lutheran Church of Dearborn.

Daniel Stephen Rolik

December 7, 1927 – January 10, 2016

Daniel Stephen Rolik was born the second of three children to Rev. Andrew and Mary Rolik on December 7, 1927 in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. All his early life and education was in the Pennsylvania community where he graduated from Johnstown Central High School in 1945, just as World War II ended. He enrolled at the University of Pittsburgh, Johnstown Center the following year. After his freshman year he transferred to Capital University, Columbus, Ohio where he enrolled in the pre-theological curriculum graduating in 1949 with a Bachelor of Arts degree.

Wishing to pursue the ministry, the following semester he enrolled at the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Columbus, Ohio. After completing his first year of Seminary training in Columbus, he chose to attend The Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago from which he graduated in 1952 with a Master of Divinity degree. Dan did his year of Internship at Grace Lutheran Church in Chicago.

Dan accepted a call as Assistant Pastor of Hope Lutheran Church in Detroit, and to fulfill a wish of his father, he was ordained on June 10, 1952 by the Zion Slovak Synod of the United Lutheran Church in America. The next day he transferred to the Michigan Synod of the same national church in order to serve in the Detroit congregation.

While serving the Detroit church, Dan courted his future wife, Shirley Ann Flood, who was involved in the education program of the congregation; and they were joined in Holy Matrimony on August 14, 1954. A year later on August first, Dan accepted a call as the pastor of a new mission congregation, Hope Lutheran in Dearborn, Michigan. Under his leadership the congregation grew and became one of the leading congregations of the Michigan Synod, later the Southeast Michigan Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

Dan and Shirley's marriage was blessed with four children, Scott, Geoffrey, Stephanie, and Tracy. After a bout with cancer, at the age of forty-four, the Lord called Shirley to her eternal rest. At this point in his life Dan considered other calls; however, not wanting to uproot the children, two of whom were still in high school, and with a congregation which was very supportive, he decided to remain with the congregation he loved.

With his sons graduated from college and his daughters almost done with their college degrees, Dan met and courted another lovely lady, Mary Lou Kortidis, and they were joined in Holy Matrimony in his congregation on November 26, 1983. Mary Lou had no children, yet suddenly she had four grown children, who quickly welcomed and came to love her and she them.

Years have passed the grown children now have homes and families of their own. Scott is married to Lisa Bennet and they reside in Oklahoma City. Geoffrey married Christine Sorenson and they make their home in Thousand Oaks, California. They have two grown children Amanda who is married to Joe Fitterer and live in North Carolina and Scott, who lives in Arizona. Stephanie is married to John Herrle and have three grown children. Sarah lives in St. Clair Shores, Sean who is married to Alicia lives in Tulsa Oklahoma and Andrew who lives in Farmington Hills. Several weeks before his death, Dan was thrilled with the announcement that Sean and Alicia are expecting the arrival of their first child.

Dan's Brother Milan, who was married to Ann Kabo and lived in Akron Ohio, was called to his eternal rest March 1, 2008. Ann now lives with their daughter Terri in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. His sister Lydia, who was married to Jerry Ontko and lived in Rockville, Maryland, was called to eternal rest in August, 2001.

After thirty-nine years as Senior Pastor of Hope Lutheran Church, Dearborn, Dan retired from full time ministry in June of 1994. After retirement, at the request of the Bishop, Dan served five congregations as Interim Pastor over a ten year period. After living in Dearborn for so many years, May of 2001, Dan and Mary Lou sold their home and moved to Plymouth, Michigan where they began a new chapter in their life.

Dan was call to his eternal rest on January 10, 2015. He was a man with an incredible capacity to love. He loved God, his family, his congregation and his friends. He journeyed through life's greatest joys and deepest sorrows with so many. He celebrated, readily laughed, served and comforted. He was dearly loved and will be greatly missed.