Willard "Bud" Fensch

Willard "Bud" Fensch, age 95 of Pigeon, and formerly of East Detroit and Elk Rapids, passed away Thursday, July 25, 2013 surrounded by his loving family.
Bud was born in Detroit on August 19, 1917 to Paul and Bertha Fensch, and was a graduate of Eastern Michigan University and the University of Michigan. On September 28, 1940 he and Lepha Ellen Ross were joined in marriage in North Branch.
Bud was a teacher, counselor, and Principal at Lincoln High School Van Dyke Schools in Warren for 30 years. During his principalship, he was also President of the Michigan High School Principals Association, and was chosen by the National Association of Secondary School Principals as one of 25 principals from the United States to visit schools in Russia, Hungary, and Yugoslavia. Bud also served on many state education committees, one of which was the first to establish high school football playoffs. He was former president of Macomb County Secondary School Principals Association, member and Chairman of University of Michigan High School Accreditation Committee, President of Macomb Athletic Conference, member of East Detroit Rotary Club, and a former active member at Immanuel United Methodist Church of East Detroit.
After retirement, Bud and Ellen moved from East Detroit to Elk Rapids where they lived for 30 years. During this time, he enjoyed lake-living, played much Bridge, was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Elk Rapids, played in the men's golf league, and served on the Board of Governors of the Elk Rapids Golf Club. He dearly loved his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. In June of 2011 Bud and Ellen moved to Pigeon.
In addition to his wife, Ellen, to whom he had been married 72 years, Bud is survived by his daughter, Karen and son-in-law, Wade Lightheart of Caseville; two grandchildren, Steve (Karen) Lightheart and Kimberly (Jerome) Yaklic; five great-grandchildren: Mary Ellen, Rebecca, Christopher, Ryan, and Samantha; a sister, Shirley (Emerie) Verhelle of Sterling Heights; brother, Robert (Nancy) Fensch of Las Vegas, Nevada; and sister-in-law, Marjorie Orr. He was preceded in death by his siblings, Gertrude, Isabelle, and Marguerite.
Cremation has taken place. A Memorial Service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, August 5, 2013 at the Caseville United Methodist Church, with Rev. Linda Fuller, pastor, officiating.
Memorials may be made to Caseville United Methodist Church.

VISITATION AT CASEVILLE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH:
Monday, August 5 1:30 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. service time