Gary R. Maternowski

With loving friends and family close by, Gary Maternowski, age 68, died peacefully on April 9th, 2020 at Brooks Memorial Hospital, after a short battle with pancreatic cancer.

He was born on April 7th, 1952 in Dunkirk, to the late Raymond and Virginia Maternowski.

He was predeceased by his wife, Lorraine (Lori) Gornikiewicz Maternowski, who died on February 22, 2018.

Early in his career, Gary served in the Army and spent most of his career working at Dunkirk Ice Cream (21 years) and Dunkirk Radiator (23 years), before retiring in 2015.

He was a quiet, gentle soul with a big heart, who loved his family and friends deeply. He loved playing golf, traveling to Texas and Michigan to visit family, grilling, spending time outdoors in the summer and socializing with friends at the Dunkirk Falcon Club, First Ward Falcons and Moniuszko Club.

He was a devoted Cleveland Browns fans and enjoyed watching College and NFL football. Gary enjoyed many things, but the true love of his life was his wife, Lori, who he was married to for 39 years before her passing. Family was always at the center of Gary’s life.

He is survived by his sister Margie (Jerry) Boltz of Portland, New York, his brother-in-law Dan (Julie) Gornikiewicz of Forestville, New York, his brother-in-law John Michalski of Marion, Texas, his sister-in-law Barbara Cottongin of Oakdale, Louisiana, also surviving are nephews: Michael Boltz of Rochester, Christopher (Angie) Boltz of Brocton, Scott (Bari) Michalski of Texas, Brian (Autumn) Michalski of Alabama, Dan Gornikiewicz Jr. of Fredonia, Adam Gornikiewicz of Dunkirk, and a niece, Kristi Lynn Cottongin of Louisiana, along with additional great nephews and nieces.

Due to the Stay Home, Stay Safe order, no funeral services will be held at this time. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. Friends are encouraged to pray for Gary’s family during this difficult time and celebrate the great fortune we all had of sharing our lives with him.