Godfrey Vlach Obituary

Vlach, Godfrey Robert Husband of Jan Ellen; father of Dana, Erik, Robert, and Thomas; grandfather of Alexandra and Mia, died in his home in Stevensville, Michigan on Monday, May 15. He was 77. He was born on May 25, 1939 in the small town of Jaroslavice, Czechoslovakia. He was 12 when he came to the United States with his family in 1952 to escape Communism. They soon settled in Chicago. After graduating from DePaul University, he volunteered for the Army at the time of the Vietnam War in 1964, and served for over 5 years. He then held a long career at Continental Bank heading International Tax, which included years of travel in South and Central America. Afterwards Robert opened his own law practice in Berwyn, IL where he used his fluency in Czech and German to serve his clients for 15 years. He introduced his family to the world of Southwest Michigan, which we still enjoy today. He taught us to appreciate history, European culture, and independent thinking. We will miss his passion for history, repertoire of jokes, and educated but self-made perspective and wisdom. He was fond of the old saying: "Life is short -- art long. Opportunity fleeting. Experience treacherous."