FLORIDA - Garis Melvin Fleetwood passed peacefully on Dec. 15, 2010.
Born in 1922 in Pembine, Wis., near Goodman, the family migrated to Spalding where he grew up.
His wife, Marion Dejka Fleetwood, preceded him in death by 6 1/2 years.
He was one of four brothers and two sisters.
He is survived by one sister, Helen Kayser of Daggett; one son, James Garis Fleetwood; daughter-in-law, Diana Ruehl Fleetwood; two grandsons, Derek James Fleetwood and Tyler Max Fleetwood; and one daughter, Carol Ann Fleetwood.
Garis or Gary, as he was known, had an easy going personality that made him likable by all he met. He loved talking to people and made them feel at ease by telling a good story. He would recall sneaking a car out of the auto dealership his dad, Otis Fleetwood, owned and driving it around at 12 or 13 years old. He loved sports and played baseball on the Powers-Spalding team. In the Army from 1940 to 1942, he sustained injuries after walking in a mine field in Belgium. He lost his right eye and had many shrapnel wounds.
His ball playing days were over but he continued to keep up with college and pro sports.
After moving to Florida in 1958, he worked for the post office until he retired.
In the early 60s he coached little league baseball. Golfing was the love of his life.
He returned to Michigan almost every year to see family and friends. Garis had Parkinsons and the last two years of his life was spent in the Miami Veteran's Hospital Nursing Unit. His health had been declining steadily during this time and he had a heart attack on Dec. 8, 2010. He never recovered from it and succumbed a week later.
He was loved very much by family and friends alike. He will be missed by all those who knew him.
A private viewing for local friends and family took place at Fred Hunter's Mortuary in Hollywood, Fla., on Tuesday, Dec. 21.
He will be buried at Spalding Township Cemetery in Spalding.
Born in 1922 in Pembine, Wis., near Goodman, the family migrated to Spalding where he grew up.
His wife, Marion Dejka Fleetwood, preceded him in death by 6 1/2 years.
He was one of four brothers and two sisters.
He is survived by one sister, Helen Kayser of Daggett; one son, James Garis Fleetwood; daughter-in-law, Diana Ruehl Fleetwood; two grandsons, Derek James Fleetwood and Tyler Max Fleetwood; and one daughter, Carol Ann Fleetwood.
Garis or Gary, as he was known, had an easy going personality that made him likable by all he met. He loved talking to people and made them feel at ease by telling a good story. He would recall sneaking a car out of the auto dealership his dad, Otis Fleetwood, owned and driving it around at 12 or 13 years old. He loved sports and played baseball on the Powers-Spalding team. In the Army from 1940 to 1942, he sustained injuries after walking in a mine field in Belgium. He lost his right eye and had many shrapnel wounds.
His ball playing days were over but he continued to keep up with college and pro sports.
After moving to Florida in 1958, he worked for the post office until he retired.
In the early 60s he coached little league baseball. Golfing was the love of his life.
He returned to Michigan almost every year to see family and friends. Garis had Parkinsons and the last two years of his life was spent in the Miami Veteran's Hospital Nursing Unit. His health had been declining steadily during this time and he had a heart attack on Dec. 8, 2010. He never recovered from it and succumbed a week later.
He was loved very much by family and friends alike. He will be missed by all those who knew him.
A private viewing for local friends and family took place at Fred Hunter's Mortuary in Hollywood, Fla., on Tuesday, Dec. 21.
He will be buried at Spalding Township Cemetery in Spalding.
FLORIDA - Garis Melvin Fleetwood passed peacefully on Dec. 15, 2010.
Born in 1922 in Pembine, Wis., near Goodman, the family migrated to Spalding where he grew up.
His wife, Marion Dejka Fleetwood, preceded him in death by 6 1/2 years.
He was one of four brothers and two sisters.
He is survived by one sister, Helen Kayser of Daggett; one son, James Garis Fleetwood; daughter-in-law, Diana Ruehl Fleetwood; two grandsons, Derek James Fleetwood and Tyler Max Fleetwood; and one daughter, Carol Ann Fleetwood.
Garis or Gary, as he was known, had an easy going personality that made him likable by all he met. He loved talking to people and made them feel at ease by telling a good story. He would recall sneaking a car out of the auto dealership his dad, Otis Fleetwood, owned and driving it around at 12 or 13 years old. He loved sports and played baseball on the Powers-Spalding team. In the Army from 1940 to 1942, he sustained injuries after walking in a mine field in Belgium. He lost his right eye and had many shrapnel wounds.
His ball playing days were over but he continued to keep up with college and pro sports.
After moving to Florida in 1958, he worked for the post office until he retired.
In the early 60s he coached little league baseball. Golfing was the love of his life.
He returned to Michigan almost every year to see family and friends. Garis had Parkinsons and the last two years of his life was spent in the Miami Veteran's Hospital Nursing Unit. His health had been declining steadily during this time and he had a heart attack on Dec. 8, 2010. He never recovered from it and succumbed a week later.
He was loved very much by family and friends alike. He will be missed by all those who knew him.
A private viewing for local friends and family took place at Fred Hunter's Mortuary in Hollywood, Fla., on Tuesday, Dec. 21.
He will be buried at Spalding Township Cemetery in Spalding.
Born in 1922 in Pembine, Wis., near Goodman, the family migrated to Spalding where he grew up.
His wife, Marion Dejka Fleetwood, preceded him in death by 6 1/2 years.
He was one of four brothers and two sisters.
He is survived by one sister, Helen Kayser of Daggett; one son, James Garis Fleetwood; daughter-in-law, Diana Ruehl Fleetwood; two grandsons, Derek James Fleetwood and Tyler Max Fleetwood; and one daughter, Carol Ann Fleetwood.
Garis or Gary, as he was known, had an easy going personality that made him likable by all he met. He loved talking to people and made them feel at ease by telling a good story. He would recall sneaking a car out of the auto dealership his dad, Otis Fleetwood, owned and driving it around at 12 or 13 years old. He loved sports and played baseball on the Powers-Spalding team. In the Army from 1940 to 1942, he sustained injuries after walking in a mine field in Belgium. He lost his right eye and had many shrapnel wounds.
His ball playing days were over but he continued to keep up with college and pro sports.
After moving to Florida in 1958, he worked for the post office until he retired.
In the early 60s he coached little league baseball. Golfing was the love of his life.
He returned to Michigan almost every year to see family and friends. Garis had Parkinsons and the last two years of his life was spent in the Miami Veteran's Hospital Nursing Unit. His health had been declining steadily during this time and he had a heart attack on Dec. 8, 2010. He never recovered from it and succumbed a week later.
He was loved very much by family and friends alike. He will be missed by all those who knew him.
A private viewing for local friends and family took place at Fred Hunter's Mortuary in Hollywood, Fla., on Tuesday, Dec. 21.
He will be buried at Spalding Township Cemetery in Spalding.
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