Carol Jean (Zirzow) Lyshak

Carol Jean Lyshak (nee Zirzow), born July 31, 1944, left this world peacefully on November 11, 2022 after a long battle with Parkinson’s Disease.  She is survived by her beloved husband, William (Bill), and son, Michael (Colin).  She is also survived by two sisters, Louise Ann Flores (Richard) of Fontana, California, and Janet R. Pearson of Hale, Michigan.  Her youngest sister, Barbara L. Champagne, of Three Oaks, Michigan, pre-deceased Carol.  She is also survived by nephews, Frank Flores, Joseph Flores, Michael Flores, Jon Taylor, Bryan Taylor, Kenneth Champagne and Robert Champagne, a niece, Autumn Strauss (nee Champagne), and many great-nieces, great-nephews and cousins. 

Carol graduated from Melvindale High School in 1962 and from Wayne State University College of Education with a B.S. in Elementary Education in 1966. 

Carol and Bill met at the Old Main in 1965 while attending Wayne State University.  They married in 1967 and soon moved to Florida.  Carol taught in Michigan and Florida for seven years.  During this time, Carol and Bill also spent 19 months traveling around the world.  They spent more than a year in Australia and New Zealand, then traveled to Southeast Asia, the Indian subcontinent and East Africa on their way home.

When Carol and Bill returned, Carol continued to teach in Florida.  Not long thereafter, they moved to Spokane, Washington, where Bill attended Gonzaga University School of Law, graduating in 1978.  Carol started law school at Gonzaga University and completed her degree at Detroit College of Law in 1980.   That same year they moved to California where Carol attended the University of San Diego earning a second law degree, an LL.M. in Taxation.  During this time she worked for Touche Ross & Co. as a tax accountant. 

When Colin was born in 1986, Carol and Bill returned to Michigan to be near family.  This enabled Carol to help care for her step-father, Edward W. Wurst, and her mother, Anna C. Wurst (nee Schmitz), during their declining years.  

Carol was known as a very smart, perceptive, good-humored and intellectually curious person.  She loved reading fiction, scientific articles and discussing politics.  She will be deeply missed by all who knew her.  Our world has lost a very good soul. 

Carol’s funeral service is planned for Tuesday, November 15, at 10:00 am (visitation from 9:30 am) at Thayer-Rock Funeral Home 33603 Grand River Ave. Farmington.

Interment will follow at Glen Eden Memorial Park in Livonia.

Memorial donations in memory of Carol may be directed to the Parkinson's Foundation.