Dolores Leppek

Dolores Marie Leppek

Bay City, Michigan

Dolores Marie (Pantkowski) Leppek went to be with the Lord and angels in Heaven. Our beloved mother, grandmother (Busia), and great grandmother (Busi) passed away on August 23, 2025 surrounded by her loved ones. Dolores was born on August 14, 1933 to the late Edward and Angeline (Maciejewski) Pantkowski, and had just celebrated her 92nd birthday!

Dolores was a lifelong resident of Bay City. She attended St. Stanislaus grade school and graduated from Central High School. On February 7, 1953 She married her high school sweetheart, Richard Leppek, and he predeceased her on August 7, 2002. Richard and Dolores were lifelong members of St. Hyacinth Parish.

Dolores was a stay at home mom until 1970 when she began her career at King Communications, retiring in 1983. She loved spending time with her family, especially camping and playing cards. In addition to being the biggest sports supporter of her grandchildren and great grandchildren, Dolores found much joy in watching the Tigers, Lions, Red Wings, and Pistons, as well as Michigan and Michigan State basketball and football.

Left to cherish her memory are her six children and their spouses, Tom (Marilyn) Leppek, Gary (Sandy) Leppek, Randy (Cheryl) Leppek, Roger (Jill) Leppek, Amy (Walter) Deford, and Diane (Robert) Owens; her seventeen grandchildren, Janelle and Jason (Lori) Leppek, Rachelle (Jason) Sowinski and Ryan (Ashley) Leppek, Hannah and Brady Leppek, Nathan, Eric (Kristen) and Tyler Deford, Kyle, Donielle (Ryan) Duley, and Brett Leppek, Lexi (Ryan Kwiatkowski) and Dana Samalik, Brittney (Jayson) and Courtney Graebner, and Sydney (Colt) Williams; her eighteen great grandchildren, plus one more on the way, Ellie, Cade and Trevor, Garrett and Brenna, Landon, Ethan, Evan, Owen, Payson and Jayden, Grayson and Bryelle, Jaxden and Paisley, Brantley, Landry, and Blakely; numerous nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents and husband, Dolores was predeceased by her sister, Dorothy (Armand) Wojcik and six brothers and sisters-in-law from Richard’s family.

Dolores’s family would like to express their gratitude to the staff of DaVita Dialysis and Transitions Hospice, as well as Dr. Rajesh Dandamudi and Dr. Amanda Gomes for the exceptional care of their mother.

Visitation for Dolores will take place 2-8:00 p.m. Tuesday, August 26, 2025 at Ambrose Funeral Home, 1200 Garfield Ave., Bay City, Michigan 48708. A Vigil prayer service will be held that evening at 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home. The funeral Mass for Dolores will be celebrated on Wednesday, August 27, 2025 at Our Lady of Czestochowa, St. Stanislaus Church, 1503 Kosciuszko Ave., Bay City, Michigan 48708. Family will gather with friends and neighbors at the church Wednesday morning from 10-11:00 am. Fr. Dale Orlik will preside and internment will follow in St. Patrick Cemetery in Bay City, Michigan. Those considering a memorial contribution in Dolores’s memory may wish to consider St. Jude Children’s Research Fund or Diabetes Association.

An online guest registry is available at www.ambrosefuneralchapel.com to share condolences, memories and stories with Dolores’s family.