When the ball rolls down the lane and the pins get knocked over, it will be a little bittersweet.
Planned for this weekend is a bowling fundraiser to benefit Andy Osip, Sr., who was diagnosed with stage IV adenocarcinoma lung cancer on Feb. 1. The event will also serve as a memorial as Osip passed away Monday, March 31. He was 61.
‘He was due to start chemotherapy April 1, but I guess God didn’t want to put him through that,? said his son Dennis.
According to Dennis, the family is still holding the bowling benefits this weekend, since his dad’s insurance was not very good and they are hoping to recover some of the costs of the hospital visits, biopsies, treatments, drugs, etc.
On Saturday, April 5, from 1-4 p.m., a family-type bowling event will be held at Collier Lanes. The cost is $20 per person, with a $20 discount for a family of 4 or more. It includes two games of bowling with shoes, and there will also be prizes, raffles, a 50/50 and a silent auction.
On Sunday, April 6, the family will be hosting a tournament-style event at Fiero Lanes in Pontiac. The cost is $125 for a team of five, and there will also be prizes, raffles and a 50/50 at this event, too.
‘My Dad was an avid bowler and had many friends in the bowling community,? Dennis said. ‘My brother and I bowled with him in leagues at both Collier Lanes and Fiero Lanes.?
Dennis said that his father has lived in Lake Orion for 11 years with his wife, Ellen, of 40 years. The couple has two sons, Andrew Jr. (Julie Vowles) and Dennis (Michelle Rodgers) and seven grandchildren, Alex, Stephanie, Ashley, Heather, Alyssa, Danielle and Dean.
‘My dad’s passions were his family, friends, bowling, gaming and watching hockey,? Dennis said. ‘He would do anything for his family at any cost, and never had a bad word to say about anybody.?
‘I’ve always said that if I was half as good of a dad as he was, then I would consider myself a great dad,? he added.
Osip first got sick around last Thanksgiving with what the family thought was the flu, which is persisted and prompted him to go in for some testing, which, after a couple of months, lead to the stage IV cancer diagnosis.
According to Dennis, on Feb. 12, the family found out the cancer spread to his brain, both adrenal glands, kidney and liver.
‘He had 15 treatments of radiation to his brain, which helped considerably, since the swelling to his brain really kicked in just prior,? Dennis added.
The family is also accepting donations, and checks can be made payable to Andy Osip Benefit Fund, P.O. Box 477, Lake Orion, MI 48362.
The Osip family hopes the community will join them in remembering their dad and taking part in one of his passions – bowling. For more information about the bowling fundraisers, call (810)793-4215 or e-mail mdosip@msn.com.
Funeral arrangements are being made for later in the week.
‘He was both my brother’s and my idol,? Dennis said. ‘He was the most honest and kindest man that has ever lived.?