William “Bill” Henry Astle, Jr, passed away peacefully at home in Otsego, Michigan, November 17, 2016, wrapped in the love of family and friends, and in the care of Allegan Wings of Hope Hospice. Bill was 82.
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Bill was born January 11, 1934, in Camas, Washington, the third child and first son of William “Butsy” Astle and Catherine “Vonnie” (Furlotte) Astle. By the age of 3 he and his family moved to Plainwell, Michigan, where his Dad was as a foreman at the paper mill. Bill was President of his Senior Class and an all-star athlete in basketball, baseball, and football. In 2012 he was honored to be inducted into the Plainwell High School Athletic Hall of Fame.
Bill spent 4 years in the Air Force, and then attended Western Michigan University. He married Sally Bowers in 1963 and is blessed with 4 daughters. Bill was an art director for International Paper Company and a purchasing manager for Flexfab, which brought him to Hastings in the 80’s. He left the business world to be Resident Manager of YMCA Camp Manitoulin for 14 years, which he said was the best job he ever had. He married Judy Hughes in 1996 and in retirement continued working for Amway, Camp Henry and Heifer International. Judy and Bill returned to Michigan to live in Otsego in 2008.
Over the years Bill was a member at Lutheran, Methodist, Baptist, Episcopal, and Presbyterian churches. He was passionate about the outdoors: skiing, cycling, backpacking, and photography, and became an avid adaptive skier and cyclist since 2004, conquering Hemlock in a monoski at his beloved Timber Ridge dozens of times.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents, “Butsy” and “Vonnie” Astle, his sister Beverly Madden (Bill), brother-in-law George McLaughlin (Betty), and first wife Sally (Bowers) Astle. He is survived by wife Judy Astle, sisters Betty McLaughlin and Barbara Pleyte (Gary), 4 daughters, Sarah Dean (Jeff), Connie Fox, Laura Benevides (Carl), Rebecca Allen, stepchildren Ben Hughes (Jennifer), and Jennifer Robelli (Erik), and grandchildren Meghan Fox, Nick Meyers, Tyler Robelli, Maxwell Benevides, Ben Fox, Aiden Hughes, Ethan Hughes, Celia Robelli and Eliana Robelli. He is also survived by 8 nephews and 3 nieces and their children, and grandchildren.
A Celebration of his Life will be held on Friday, November 25, 2016, at 5PM at Timber Ridge. Visitation begins at 4PM. In lieu of flowers, you may donate to The Bill Astle Fund at Timber Ridge Ski Area, 07500 23 ½ St, Gobles, Mi 49055
Donald attended country school at Doud, Hinds, Hastings Middle School and Hastings High School, graduating in 1964. Shortly after graduation, Donald was drafted into the Army. He proudly served his country in Vietnam 1966 - 1967 where he sustained a severe back injury being hospitalized at several overseas locations before being transferred to Walter Reed Hospital in Washington D. C.. Donald was honorably discharged in 1968 coming home in a full body cast. He earned the rank of Specialist E-4 and he received many medals: the Air Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, the Republic Vietnam Campaign Medal with device 1960, the Combat Infantryman Badge, and the Sharpshooter (Rifle M-14).
Sherry was born September 20, 1946 in Hastings, the daughter of John Lewis and Hazel E. (Heacock) Gutheridge. She graduated from Hastings High School. Sherry worked at Pennock Hospital for over 40 years. She started as a nurse's aide and her last position was unit secretary.
