William Leroy Sturm

William LeRoy Sturm, age 75, of Port Austin, died at home under hospice care on Thursday, November 25, 2010, after a year long valiant battle with pancreatic cancer.

Bill was born January 22, 1935 in Bad Axe to the late George and Laura (Rankin) Sturm. Bill graduated from Bad Axe High School in 1953. He served in the US Navy from 1957 to 1959. On June 24, 1961 he married Margaret Costello at St. Edward Catholic Church in Kinde.

Bill held a bachelor’s degree from Ferris State University and a master’s degree from Eastern Michigan University in Special Education. He retired from Birmingham Public Schools as a Special Education teacher in 1995. For 35 years Bill lived in Walled Lake where he and Peggy raised their family. After retiring they moved to their home on the water in Hume Township.

Bill was a member of St. Roch Catholic Church in Caseville and St. Williams in Walled Lake. He was an active and devoted member of the Knights of Columbus #8042 and Assembly #2372. He had served as the faithful navigator, treasurer, and in the honor guard. He was a member of the Michigan Association of Retired School Personnel, Huron chapter.

In his free time, Bill enjoyed skiing, traveling, fishing, helping others in need, enjoying dinner with friends, and “ a little something from the jar.” Most of all, he enjoyed spending time with his family and grandchildren.

Bill is survived by his wife Margaret “Peggy;” children Kristina (John) Hester of South Lyon, William G. (Judy) of Brighton, and Katy (Barry) Hale of Fort Worth, Texas; his grandchildren Heather, Claire, John Clark, Annalise, Alyssa, Eric, and Calvin.

He was preceded in death by his brothers Robert and James.

A funeral mass will be at 11:00 am Monday, November 29th at St. Roch Catholic Church with Fr. Robert Paré presiding.

Visitation will be 1 to 8:00 pm Sunday at the Champagne Funeral Chapel of Caseville. He will lie in-state at church from 10:00 am Monday until the time of the mass. There will be a Knights of Columbus Rosary at 7:00 pm Sunday at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the St. Roch Building Fund or Port Austin Library.