The couple and their sons wit-
nessed some big changes during the
60s which eventually impacted their
business. Willow Road was paved,
Bessie Hoffman Elementary School
was constructed and city water pipes
were installed alongWillowRoad.
A family member no longer had to
ride a bike to a neighbor's home to pick
up mail when the first mailboxes were
installed along the road.
The business was incorporated in
1976 the family continued to operate
their greenhouse business. When their
father died in 1987, Gerald and Donald
continued to operate the business until
Donald and Carol bought the opera-
tion from the family in 1997. Gerald
opted to retire only two years later in
1999, but the family, including Helen
Zywicki, who died in 2016, continued
to maintain the business which was
flourishing.
The family opened a retail store in
1999 where today they have more than
250,000 square feet of greenhouse
space where they ship plants across
Michigan. The family continues to take
their plants to Eastern market on
Saturdays.
Both Donald and Carol Zywicki
retired last year but continue to help
the family during the busy times of the
year. Their four children, John, Tracy,
Donald, Jr. and Joseph Zywicki, are
slowly taking over the reins at the busi-
ness, helped by Tracy's husband,
EdzonVazquez.
A cousin, Scott Zywicki, who has
worked at the greenhouses since he
was a child is also involved in the oper-
ation along with nieces, nephews and
grandchildren who have worked at the
business during themore than 73 years
since John and Helen moved to their
farm.
Today, fourth generation members
of the family work at the greenhouse
which has become an integral part of
theSumpter Township community.
The committee members were
unanimous in choosing the family at
Zywicki Greenhouses as the Grand
Marshal of the Sumpter Country Fest
this year.
Page 4
Marshal,
from page 3
Today, fourth generation members
of the family work at the greenhouse which
has become an integral part of
the Sumpter Township community.
”
