Jay Wolgast was born on June 9, 1932 in Leelanau County, Michigan to William and Martha Wolgast. He grew up in Traverse City and graduated from Traverse City High School in 1951. After graduation he joined the U.S. Navy and spent four years in the South Pacific near the end of the Korean War on the destroyer, USS Rogers. In 1956 he was honorably discharged and returned home to Traverse City. Soon after he met his true love, Patricia Neff and they were married in December of 1956. In June of that year they moved to Three Rivers to help run the family business, Neff's Greenhouse. During the ensuing years they raised their three children while Jay was active in the Lions Club and the First United Methodist Church. After leaving the greenhouse business Jay worked for Clarage Fan in Kalamazoo and spent ten years working at General Motors in Three Rivers. When he retired Jay found time for a new passion; painting. Together with Patti they enjoyed traveling to Florida, loving their three grandchildren, and their one-of-a-kind cat, Rosie. When his wife of fifty years passed away in 2006 Jay moved to the Kalamazoo area. Jay is preceded in death by his wife, Patricia; his mother and father; a sister; a brother; and many aunts and uncles. Surviving are his three children, Sara Wolgast Jensen and her husband, Gregory, William R. Wolgast and his wife, Rebecca, and Mary Wolgast Monk and her husband, David; three grandchildren, William Ryan Wolgast, DeAnna Marija Wolgast, and Matthew Jensen; and one great-grandson, Max Wolgast. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday at the Eickhoff Farrand Halverson Chapel in Three Rivers. Memorial services will be 11 a.m. Friday May 24, 2013 at the First United Methodist Church with Pastor Robert Nystrom officiating. Interment of ashes will follow in Riverside Cemetery with military rites by Hice-Shutes American Legion Post #170. Memorial donations may be directed to either the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Fund, or to the Carnegie Art Center. Condolences may be left for the family at www.efhchapel.com