Clayton Duane Esch

Clayton D. Esch, “Clayt,” age 98 of Pigeon, went to his Heavenly Home shortly after midnight on
Thursday, November 9, 2023 at Scheurer Health, Pigeon, following a recent diagnosis of Acute
Myeloid Leukemia.

He was born in Pigeon on October 6, 1925, the son of Lewis and Maggie (Wideman) Esch. As a
youth, he attended Sebewaing School, and the Winsor Country School. He was one of the last two
living members of the Pigeon High School Class of 1943.

As a young man, he met an Elkton girl named Freda Kivel. They were married on August 28,
1948. She preceded him in death on September 5, 2005.

In the early years of his marriage, he worked as a farmer and for a local plumber for a few
years, then took a job at Active Industries (now Autokiniton) where he was the plumbing and
hydraulic supervisor for over 33 years. After retiring, he and his wife became the managers of Sigel
Apartments in Pigeon. His interest in history led him to the Pigeon Historical Society where he
championed fundraising for the construction of a storage building and was instrumental in the
establishment of the Society’s Woelke Research Center.

Clayt served as Pigeon Village Zoning Administrator for 23 years, as a member of the Pigeon
Village Council for 5 years, was a humble recipient of the Paul Harris Fellowship from the Rotary
Club of Pigeon, and a member of St. Paul Methodist Church, Elkton.
Seven years ago, Clayt moved to Country Bay Village where he enjoyed the weekly activities as
well as playing card games or a game of chicken foot dominoes.  He never contracted Covid, and would tell you the secret to staying healthy is inhaling fumes from melted Vicks VapoRub.

He will be missed deeply for the love he gave to his family: sons Denny (Dee) Esch, and Bill
Esch; daughter-in-law Cathy Esch; his grandchildren: Gina (Mike) Heilig, Chad (Sharon) Esch,
Jeremy (Cindy) Esch, Holly (Marc) Smith, Matt (Lisa) Esch, Julie (Brandon) Sutkowi, Erik Esch
(Genesis Hernandez); great-grandchildren: Nate (Haley) Schulz, Ryan (Ashley) Schulz, Morgan
(Aaron) Meyer, Nicholas (Jordan) Esch, Conner Esch, Carter Esch, Nolan VanWormer, Hannah
Miller, Dominick Smith, Justin Esch, Lauren Esch, Chastin Hale, Hannah Hale,
Chloe Paulson, Gavin Esch, Logan Esch; great-great grandchildren: Troy Schulz, Hattie Schulz,
Charlotte Schulz, Brody Schulz, Mason Schulz, Marshal Miller, and Braylon Miller; siblings: Dody
Eicher of Highlands Ranch, CO, Dwight and Ofie Esch of Sacramento, CA, and Marilyn and Jack
Ludwig of Peoria, AZ; many nieces and nephews; honorary son Pastor Won Kim, his chicken foot
domino friends: Mary Dast, Lois Dast, Carolyn Morrison, and Don Dietzel, as well as his Country
Bay Village family.  Along with his wife Freda, he was preceded in death by his son Chuck on October 11, and
brother-in-law Lloyd Eicher.

Funeral Services will be held Tuesday, November 14 at 11:00 am at the St. Paul Methodist Church in Elkton.
Visitation will take place on Monday, November 13 from 2-8 pm at Champagne Funeral Chapel
in Pigeon, as well as at the church one hour prior to the funeral.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to St. Paul Methodist Church or the
Pigeon Historical Society.

Clayt’s family wants to thank the residents and staff of Country Bay Village, everyone at
Scheurer Hospital who went out of their way to care for Clayt, Dr. Ross Ramsey and Dr. Dan Drake
for explaining care plan options to make wise decisions, and A Change of Seasons Hospice.

Livestreaming Link is below:

https://player.memoryshare.com/memoryshare/video/clayton-esch-8071635