Willard A. Schaub, Died November 13, 2018

Willard A. Schaub

Died Nov. 13, 2018

LAKE LEELANAU -- Willard August Schaub, 86, of Lake Leelanau, died Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018 at Munson Medical Center.

Willard was born on January 30, 1932 in Centerville Township, the son of August and Clara (Harp) Schaub.  In September of 1960 in Sharonville, OH, he married Barbara May Bates, who preceded him in death on October 12, 1992.

Willard grew up during the Depression Era, and it greatly shaped the person he was. When he was 19, he joined the Coast Guard, serving from 1951 in the Korean War, until honorably discharged in 1959.  After serving, he worked construction in Ohio, building the Eisenhower International Highways.  Later, he moved to Leelanau County, working at Burwoods Products, and had a beef and cherry farm.

Always joking and happy, Willard had a good attitude towards life.  He loved to play in euchre and black jack tournaments and was whiz at checkers.  He enjoyed deer hunting, fishing, and gardening.  Willard made it a point to not only feed his family this way, but to always grow extra and give fruits and vegetables to those he knew.

Willard was a hard worker; he grew up poor and made a life for himself.  He instilled his good work ethic into his children.  He would often tell them things like, “make a bad job good and a good job better” and “when you’re working, don’t worry about the other guy, worry about yourself”.  He took great pride in all of his kids accomplishments (especially when they got a deer) and was always interested in what activities they were up to.  A greater family man there never was; he loved seeing his grandkids and spending time with them. 

Willard is survived by his children, Gregory (Marilyn Fortuna) Schaub of Lake Leelanau, Kenneth (Febra) Schaub of Grand Rapids, Michael (Cory) Schaub of Lake Leelanau, and Eric (Julana) Schaub of Maple City; his grandchildren, Justinamay, August, Jerry, Mackenzie, Adrienne, Liberty, Emma and Ethan; his siblings, Dorothy Reicha, Leona Salisbury, Mildred Bruekheis, Gladys (Paul) Dover, Irene (Jim) Hawkins, Albert Schaub and Ralph (Jose) Schaub.

He was preceded in death by his darling wife, Barbara; a sister in infancy, Francis; his siblings, Theodore (Pauline) Schaub and Rosaline (Jack) Kiessel; his brother inlaws, Julian (Dorothy) Reicha, Guy (Leona) Salisbury, Jarvis (Mildred) Bruekheis, and Kenneth (Vivian) Bates.

Visitation will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 19 with the Rosary to be prayed at 7 p.m. at the Martinson Funeral Home of Suttons Bay. The funeral mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 20 at St. Mary’s Church, Lake Leelanau, with the family greeting friends at 10 a.m.  Burial will follow in St. Mary’s Cemetery.  Fr. Bryan Medlin will serve as celebrant.

As he was a member of St. Mary’s Parish, and always supporting the church and the school, the family would like memorial donations to be directed to St. Mary’s Church and/or St. Mary’s School, both PO Box 340, Lake Leelanau, MI 49653.

The family would like to give special thanks to Marilyn Fortuna for helping take care of Willard.

Condolences may be shared with the Schaub family below or on our Facebook Page.