Erno Lajos Pacsai, beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and storyteller, passed away surrounded by the family he built, cherished, and fiercely protected.

Erno was born on June 27, 1934, in Pacsa, Hungary, into a world that would test him early and often. His younger years were shaped by war, hardship, and scarcity, but also by curiosity, humor, and a deep love of stories. Even as a boy, he observed the world closely, collecting moments the way others collect objects, each one vivid, meaningful, and ready to be retold.

As a young man, Erno discovered a love of flying through a local glider club and went on to join the Hungarian Air Force Academy. He lived through the devastation of World War II, witnessing both the cruelty and resilience of humanity. These early years forged in him a quiet toughness, a grit that would carry him across continents and through life’s many challenges.

In 1956, following the Hungarian Revolution, Erno made the courageous decision to leave his homeland, to come to the US to join his Aunt Terez Kolmar, who sponsored him.
With determination, he escaped into Austria and joined a refugee group in Denmark, which provided a faster path to the US.

In Denmark, he met the love of his life, Lis, beginning a partnership that would span decades and continents. Together, they created not just a family, but a legacy. They were married in Denmark, and their first son, Kim, was born there.

Soon after, Erno made his way to the United States to begin building a new life. At first, he stayed in Detroit with his aunt and her daughter Yolanda. They became his new family, and he could not have survived without them.

Lis and Kim followed, arriving in Chicago. Erno worked tirelessly to provide for his family, moving to Detroit in the early 1960s, where he found work as a toolmaker. He continued his education, pursuing studies in engineering and eventually earning a master’s degree in manufacturing engineering. During these years, their family grew with the births of Ernie and Rose.

The family grew even more when Yolanda married Leslie in 1963, welcoming his daughters, Eva and Judy. They shared holidays, milestones, and many of life’s moments together, beginning a long tradition of family connections.

Following the unrest of the late 1960s, Erno moved the family to Livonia, Michigan. He supported his children in scouting, pursued hobbies like winemaking, and created a life grounded in hard work, resilience, and deep family connection. Memorable adventures included trips to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, tent camping at Tahquamenon Falls, the Porcupine Mountains, and the Keweenaw mines, along with vacations to Europe and Yellowstone National Park. Erno also loved traveling with family from Denmark: Marie and Thorvald, and Jorgen and Ingelise. These were some of his favorite trips, filled with laughter and unforgettable experiences, including time in Monaco and Venice, traveling through Sweden, outings on Jorgen’s boat, the Old Danish, and large family gatherings celebrating birthdays and special occasions.

Erno worked in several tool and die businesses, Massey Ferguson, and started his own consulting business. In 1992, he began working at Ford, where he spent 10 years before retiring.

One of the most meaningful places in Erno’s life was the family cottage in Tawas, Michigan. The tradition began with visits to Yolanda’s log cabin on a beautiful stretch of sandy beach on Lake Huron, where the families first gathered and created lasting memories. In 1974, Erno and Lis purchased additional land further down the beach and built their own beloved family cottage. Summers were filled with family, laughter, long days by the water, and walks along the beach visiting Eva and Judy, keeping the families closely connected. He loved watching his grandchildren, Terez, Kyle, Kelsey, Jorden, Tayler, and Justen, quietly taking it all in, proud of what he had built.

Erno had a magnetic presence. Warm, charismatic, and endlessly social, he could strike up a conversation with anyone, friend or stranger, and within minutes they would be listening to one of his many stories. He always had one ready, often longer than expected, always worth it.

He was also a collector, not just of stories, but of beautiful, tangible pieces of history. His collection of antique scales and miniature liquor bottles filled his basement like a museum, each item carefully chosen, each with its own origin and meaning. He delighted in guiding visitors through his collection, one story at a time.

Music, too, was part of his spirit. Accordion, organ, harmonica, always ready to bring energy into a room. His humor, wit, and storytelling brought family gatherings to life.

Erno’s life was, in every sense, a story of perseverance, resilience, and love. Building a thriving family in a new country, he lived with courage and intention. He never forgot where he came from, and he never stopped appreciating what he had built.

 

He is survived by Sister Rozsi Labodi, who lives in Hungary; niece Gabriella Hicks and nephew Imre Labodi

Devoted wife of 67 years, Lis Holmer Pacsai

Loving children: Kim Jorgen Pacsai, married to Carol Sue Berryman; Ernest Edmond Pacsai, married to Dawne Lynn Ingalls; Rose Marie Lowry, married to Timothy Ray Lowry

Beloved grandchildren: Terez Anne Pacsai Lowry; Kyle Robert Pacsai, married to Jacquelyn Elizabeth Palmer; Kelsey Lis Pacsai; Jorden Carl Lowry; Tayler Rose Pacsai; Justen William Pacsai

Most treasured newest additions: great-grandchildren Makenzie Kathryn Pacsai and Madilyn Carol Pacsai

Cousins: Eva and David Chinsky, and their family Joel, Sienn, Victoria, Clara, Mark, Emma and Zoe

And the extended family and friends who were all, in his eyes, family

Erno will be remembered for his strength, his stories, his laughter, his collections, his goulash, and above all, his unwavering love.

In lieu of flowers, because Erno loved having lots of trees, please plant a tree, or donations can be made to Trees for the Future at www.trees.org.