George Willard Erickson, Jr. Obituary

George Willard Erickson, Jr., 85, passed away peacefully in
his sleep on Wednesday, July 1, at The Whitcomb Senior Living Tower, where he
was living his best life, dancing and playing cards with the ladies.

He was born on November 11, 1940, in St. Joseph, MI, on a
very stormy night. The following day, the local Herald-Press ran an article
with the headline “Night and day it raged!” His family liked to joke that the
article was about him.

After graduating from his beloved Valparaiso University in
1962 with a degree in Civil Engineering and as a member of the Phi Kappa Psi
fraternity, he married his high school sweetheart, Phyllis, on July 7, 1962, in
St. Joseph, MI.

They then spent a short time in Eureka, CA, before
returning to settle in Grand Ledge, MI, where they lived most of their
lives, raising two – what he liked to call – “wonderful children” and working
in Lansing, MI, for the Michigan Department of Transportation until his
retirement.

He was kind, gentle, and funny. He loved his Nutty Dunkers
every morning, a glass or two of wine with each meal, and his daily Sudoku. In
his younger years, he was an avid golfer, bowler, and racquetball player. He
could build or fix just about anything his family wanted or needed with his own
two hands.

George is survived by his children, Kimberly Anne (David)
Walstrom of Holland, MI, and Michael David Erickson of St. Joseph, MI; grandson
Joseph (Shelby) Peiffer and two great-grandchildren, all of Zeeland, MI;
sibling Annette Joy (Darrell) Schrag of St. Joseph, MI; and many beloved in-laws,
nieces, nephews, and cousins.

He is preceded in death by his parents, George Willard Erickson and 

Sophie Marie (Haase) Erickson; his sister Marian Louise Erickson, and 

his beautiful wife of 62 years, Phyllis (Bavido) Erickson, with whom he 

shared a lifetime of devotion and a mutual promise to love one another 

“more today than yesterday.”

His family extends their deepest gratitude to the staff and
caregivers at The Whitcomb Senior Living Tower for their compassion and
kindness, which made the final chapter of his life deeply fulfilling, joyful,
and rich in friendship. 

Friends and family may visit with the family on Saturday,
July 11, from 11 AM to 3 PM at Starks & Menchinger Chapel & Cremation
Services, 2650 Niles Road, St. Joseph, with a blessing by Pastor James Smith of
Saron Lutheran Church at 12 PM.