Samuel J. Belanger
Died August 8, 2016
LAKE LEELANAU – Samuel
Joseph Belanger, 90, of Lake Leelanau, passed away Monday, August 8, 2016 at
Munson Medical Center.
Sam was born on May 21,
1926 in Lake Leelanau, the son of Napoleon and Mary (Kiessel) Belanger. On Oct. 30, 1948 at Holy Rosary Church in
Isadore, he married Louise Emma Vert who survives.
Sam served at the
Battle of the Bulge in the U.S. Army during WWII. He belonged to the VFW for over 60 years and
was a 3rd degree Knight of Columbus.
Sam was also the sexton for St. Mary Cemetery for 33 years. He was an avid Euchre player and hard worker
– even cutting firewood until he was 82 years old. Sam loved to sit in his yard and wave to his
friends as they passed. He was a devoted
husband, loved his family and his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
In addition to his wife
of 67 years, Sam is survived by his children, Barbara (Robert) Eckerdt, Karen
(Mike) Evans, Richard Belanger, and Kathleen (Todd) Basch; five grandchildren,
Chris (Melissa) Eckerdt, Jennifer (Eric) Blomberg, Scott Evans, Terri Evans, and
Madyson Basch; four great-grandchildren, Emma Eckerdt, Ally Blomberg, Ava
Blomberg, and Ian Evans; sister Rosemary, Mildred (Elmer) Kalchik, Clara
(Jerome) Bufka; brothers, Paul (Ann) Belanger, and Ed (Darlene) Belanger.
Sam was preceded in
death by siblings, Agnes Steimel, Margaret Walters, Leona Walter, Leo and
Bernard Belanger.
Visitation will be held
on Thursday, August 11 from 5 to 7 p.m. with the rosary at 7 p.m. at St. Mary
Church, Lake Leelanau. The funeral mass
will be celebrated on Friday, August 12 at 11 a.m. also at St. Mary Church. Fr. Michael Janowski will serve as
celebrant. Cremation and burial will
follow at a later date.
Memorials may be
directed to St. Mary Church, P.O. Box 340, Lake Leelanau, MI 49653.
Condolences may be shared with the Belanger family below:
As a CNA /PSA, I cared for Sam, loved his stories, and his words of wisdom.
ReplyDeleteSuch a gentle man. He will be missed. RIP Sam.