Patrick W. Wisniewski

A Person in Uniform and Dark Shades Wearing a Scarf
A Soldier Standing in Front of an Olive Color Truck
Two Soldiers Standing With a American Flag in Hand
A Group of Soldiers Standing With a Dog Sitting With Them

Staff Sergeant, United States Air National Guard

August 17, 1979 – June 2, 2013

Age – 33

New Baltimore, Michigan

Persian Gulf, Operation Iraqi Freedom

Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Harrison Township, MI

Died when an intoxicated driver hit his motorcycle as he left Selfridge ANGB

Jennifer Wisniewski says her 33-year-old husband sent her and her children a “sign” on the evening he died.

She’d spoken to Patrick Wisniewski a few hours earlier, she said “just a simple conversation.”

Staff Sgt. Wisniewski, finishing up his shift as a security officer at the Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Harrison Township last Sunday, asked his wife to heat up some leftover pizza for his dinner when he got home. But something odd happened a little later, said Jennifer Wisniewski.

“I was on the couch relaxing, and my daughters went up and got our wedding album,” she said. “They brought it to the couch and were flipping through it.”

Jennifer Wisniewski said they looked through the album together, her daughters commenting, “look how pretty you are and look how handsome daddy was.”

Thinking nothing of it, she asked her children to put it away before they wrecked the pages, she said. “Five minutes later I got the call,” said the mother of five. Her husband since 2004, a New Baltimore reserve police officer who planned to take a full-time position as a school resource officer next year, was gone.

Patrick Wisniewski died in a motorcycle crash Sunday after colliding with an unlicensed and intoxicated driver who turned in front of him, according to police.

He was remembered by fellow airmen as follows:

My heart is broken just thinking about the loss of such an amazing guy. I was in CAP with Pat. When I saw him at the last Air Show, he was on bike patrol. He stopped and gave me a hug and introduced me to his coworker as his “Cadet Commander,” A title I haven’t had in 17 years. It meant the world to me and I loved catching up with him and staying in touch on Facebook. I offer his family my deepest sympathy and am praying for you all.

Maria Myers

Wiz… May I one day have your sense of true balance between family, duty, honor, and country. You were the glue which kept many people together during tough times. We were blessed with your passion. While you take over the shift on your new eternal watch, your Family and fellow Defenders will always miss you. When it’s my turn to stand watch where you are now, I hope you are my Flight Chief.

Alan Parks