Passing of Msgr. Walter Joseph Ziemba, Ph.D.
ORCHARD LAKE, MI - Orchard Lake Schools (OLS) in MI lost one of its greatest leaders
when Msgr. Walter Ziemba, 85, passed into eternal life on June 8, 2012, in Petoskey, MI. Msgr. Ziemba had been on the Schools' campus for 68 years! He graduated from St. Mary's
Preparatory at Orchard Lake (1944) and St. Mary's College in 1947. He was appointed to the
Orchard Lake Schools’ faculty in 1951, served as Rector-President-Superintendent from 1967-1977 and retired in 1996.
Born on Detroit’s East side, the son of Thomas and Sophia (nee Sosnowski) Ziemba, Walter was ordained in 1951 for the Archdiocese of Detroit. In 1966, he was awarded a doctorate in higher education administration from the U. of MI. Msgr. Ziemba taught in the Seminary, college and prep. He was librarian, Dean of St. Mary's College, Executive Secretary of the Alumni Association, Director of the Friends of Orchard Lake, Secretary-General of OLS, Charter Member of Founder's Day, and Director of the Pope John
Paul II Center.
Msgr. Ziemba was a member of PRCUA Society #798. He was grateful to the PRCUA for the assistance OLS received:
annual gifts, matching gifts, etc., which were all gratefully received and acknowledged by him during his decade of
leadership. He also founded the Center for Polish Studies and Culture, the Center for Pastoral Studies, the Polish American
Liturgical Center and the Orchard Lake Ambassadors. He hosted visits by Cardinal Karol Wojtyla - Pope John Paul II - to
the campus in 1969 and 1976, and served as translatorinterpreter for the Cardinal's visits to other areas of the USA.
In 1971, Msgr. Ziemba and Edward Piszek, then presidentowner of Mrs. Paul's Kitchens, inaugurated "Project: POLE,"
a $500,000 nationwide public relations campaign to promote a positive image of Polish culture and heritage. Major construction projects during his leadership included a $2.1 million residence hall in 1971 and a fieldhouse donated
by alumnus Robert Dombrowski in 1973.
In 2001, Msgr. Ziemba was awarded the OLS 2001 Fidelitas Medal for "fidelity in serving God and country through the
realization of the religious and cultural ideals of the forefathers." He shared the honor with his dear friend, Msgr.
Stanley E. Milewski - PRCUA National Vice Chaplain. In Sept. 2005, Pope Benedict XVI conferred the title of Monsignor upon Rev. Walter Ziemba. The ceremony was held on October 19 at Most Blessed Sacrament Cathedral in Detroit.
Msgr. Ziemba translated the prison notes of Cardinal Stephen Wyszynski titled A Freedom Within, for which he
received the Christopher Award, and he wrote several books of poetry and numerous articles about American Polonia.
The Funeral Mass was held on June 12 at Our Lady of Orchard Lake Chapel. His Eminence Adam Cardinal Maida
concelebrated the Mass with Bishop Francis Reiss of the Detroit Archdiocese, PRCUA Chaplain Fr. Walter Ptak, Vice Chaplain Fr. Anthony Iwuc and Vice Chaplain Msgr. Stanley Milewski, who gave a wonderful eulogy about his life-long friend. At least 40 additional monsignors and priests also participated.
The PRCUA was represented by Pres. & Mrs. Joseph A. Drobot, Jr., V.P. & Mrs. Robert Bielenda and Mr. & Mrs. Ted
Klamerus. Burial was at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery. God blessed Msgr. Ziemba with many talents. As a priest,
teacher and administrator, he based his life on the teaching that talents and love are treasures that need to be shared for the
glory of God and the welfare of others. He loved God, the Blessed Mother, the United States, Poland and Polonia.
Surely he has taken his love for all Polish American fraternals with him to God's throne in heaven, asking the Holy Trinity to
inspire the current generation of Polonia to love and support these precious organizations.
May we, in turn, remember him in our prayers with gratitude for all the blessings we received from God, thanks to
his leadership and prayers. May he rest in eternal peace, assured that he made a positive difference in the world.
Narod Polski, July 1, 2012
http://www.prcua.org/NarodPolski/2012/narod20120701.pdf
ORCHARD LAKE, MI - Orchard Lake Schools (OLS) in MI lost one of its greatest leaders
when Msgr. Walter Ziemba, 85, passed into eternal life on June 8, 2012, in Petoskey, MI. Msgr. Ziemba had been on the Schools' campus for 68 years! He graduated from St. Mary's
Preparatory at Orchard Lake (1944) and St. Mary's College in 1947. He was appointed to the
Orchard Lake Schools’ faculty in 1951, served as Rector-President-Superintendent from 1967-1977 and retired in 1996.
Born on Detroit’s East side, the son of Thomas and Sophia (nee Sosnowski) Ziemba, Walter was ordained in 1951 for the Archdiocese of Detroit. In 1966, he was awarded a doctorate in higher education administration from the U. of MI. Msgr. Ziemba taught in the Seminary, college and prep. He was librarian, Dean of St. Mary's College, Executive Secretary of the Alumni Association, Director of the Friends of Orchard Lake, Secretary-General of OLS, Charter Member of Founder's Day, and Director of the Pope John
Paul II Center.
Msgr. Ziemba was a member of PRCUA Society #798. He was grateful to the PRCUA for the assistance OLS received:
annual gifts, matching gifts, etc., which were all gratefully received and acknowledged by him during his decade of
leadership. He also founded the Center for Polish Studies and Culture, the Center for Pastoral Studies, the Polish American
Liturgical Center and the Orchard Lake Ambassadors. He hosted visits by Cardinal Karol Wojtyla - Pope John Paul II - to
the campus in 1969 and 1976, and served as translatorinterpreter for the Cardinal's visits to other areas of the USA.
In 1971, Msgr. Ziemba and Edward Piszek, then presidentowner of Mrs. Paul's Kitchens, inaugurated "Project: POLE,"
a $500,000 nationwide public relations campaign to promote a positive image of Polish culture and heritage. Major construction projects during his leadership included a $2.1 million residence hall in 1971 and a fieldhouse donated
by alumnus Robert Dombrowski in 1973.
In 2001, Msgr. Ziemba was awarded the OLS 2001 Fidelitas Medal for "fidelity in serving God and country through the
realization of the religious and cultural ideals of the forefathers." He shared the honor with his dear friend, Msgr.
Stanley E. Milewski - PRCUA National Vice Chaplain. In Sept. 2005, Pope Benedict XVI conferred the title of Monsignor upon Rev. Walter Ziemba. The ceremony was held on October 19 at Most Blessed Sacrament Cathedral in Detroit.
Msgr. Ziemba translated the prison notes of Cardinal Stephen Wyszynski titled A Freedom Within, for which he
received the Christopher Award, and he wrote several books of poetry and numerous articles about American Polonia.
The Funeral Mass was held on June 12 at Our Lady of Orchard Lake Chapel. His Eminence Adam Cardinal Maida
concelebrated the Mass with Bishop Francis Reiss of the Detroit Archdiocese, PRCUA Chaplain Fr. Walter Ptak, Vice Chaplain Fr. Anthony Iwuc and Vice Chaplain Msgr. Stanley Milewski, who gave a wonderful eulogy about his life-long friend. At least 40 additional monsignors and priests also participated.
The PRCUA was represented by Pres. & Mrs. Joseph A. Drobot, Jr., V.P. & Mrs. Robert Bielenda and Mr. & Mrs. Ted
Klamerus. Burial was at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery. God blessed Msgr. Ziemba with many talents. As a priest,
teacher and administrator, he based his life on the teaching that talents and love are treasures that need to be shared for the
glory of God and the welfare of others. He loved God, the Blessed Mother, the United States, Poland and Polonia.
Surely he has taken his love for all Polish American fraternals with him to God's throne in heaven, asking the Holy Trinity to
inspire the current generation of Polonia to love and support these precious organizations.
May we, in turn, remember him in our prayers with gratitude for all the blessings we received from God, thanks to
his leadership and prayers. May he rest in eternal peace, assured that he made a positive difference in the world.
Narod Polski, July 1, 2012
http://www.prcua.org/NarodPolski/2012/narod20120701.pdf
