Louis J. Stephenson's Obituary
In Marine City, Michigan on February 19, 1940, Leo George and Jeanette Lucille (Wiederwohl) Stephenson were blessed with the birth of Louis John Stephenson. On March 2, 2011 God took him home for a well-earned rest. His first memories were of the WWII effort in the United States. Because his mother was a professional seamstress, she designed a military uniform for him to display his patriotism. He shared memories of the family listening to the radio every night to reports regarding the progress of the war, remembered tokens for flour, sugar, and gasoline, and dividing metals for curbside pick-up to be used in the war effort. In many ways, Lou had an idyllic childhood. Hunting, fishing, ice skating, swimming, and playing baseball filled his off-time. But as young as seven years old his father, a professional duck hunter and fishing guide, expected Lou to act as the golfer, fish cleaner, and boat scrubber. In his spare time he pushed a metal wheeled lawn mower (which he swore weighed more than him) on the sidewalk to drum up business cutting grass and to sell fish he caught on his own time. With that money, at the age of seven, he purchased his first bicycle: a maroon Western Flyer. Lou had a milk truck route before he was licensed to drive. Additionally, he had jobs at two different gas stations during his school days at Holy Cross High School. He saved and purchased his pride and joy: a 1949 maroon Mercury convertible with fender skirts. But later, his pride and joy for street dragging was a 1956 four on the floor Chevrolet V8. Surprisingly, he admitted to an equal number of wins and losses. In high school Lou played guard in basketball and running back in football. After graduating from Holy Cross in 1958, Lou was hired on the Great Lakes Ore Boats to shovel coal in the boilers as his Grandpa Stephenson had for decades. Lou then began his first union membership via the Union Seafarers Association. In 1960 he enlisted in the Navy as a boiler tender and ultimately achieved the high rank of BT3. He circled the world three times. The concept of crossing the International Date Line amazed him. After fulfilling his military obligation in 1965 Lou applied for and became a Licensed Inspector of Boiler and Pressure Vessels. At that time he was the youngest person to hold that hard earned certification of competency. For a period of time he worked for an insurance company inspecting boilers. This position (which often required him to act against his sense of honesty and fairness) did not suit him. He then became employed as a power plant operator at the Detroit Edison plant in St. Clair, Michigan. At that facility he again became a proud member of a union: the United Utilities Works of America. There he was able to begin his service to his fellow workers as a union steward. In 1985 he moved to Montague, Michigan to work at S. D Warren in Muskegon. He immediately fell in love with the beautiful area and the cordial, easygoing people. Teaching his guys and helping make their lives as pleasant as possible, Lou felt rewarded in his position as a shift supervisor. But what was Louis John the person outside of the work environment? His was a life of volunteering and giving to others. Lou volunteered with the Marysville Fire Department, coached Boy and Girls Little League, built handicap ramps, was a member of the Edison’s Community Service Committee and maintained a backyard ice skating rink. He was a competitive runner and biker. In later years badminton, croquette, and golfing became the sports of choice (some suggested that he made up rules). Lou’s artistic side manifested through refinishing antique furniture and artistic painting. He loved traveling and adapted to whatever the new circumstances required (pronouns in Key West caused some humorous situations). This guy was an avid Red Wing fan with a memory for statistics that amazed others. And last, but not least, his grandchildren were the joy of his life. He worked diligently to teach each to tie their own shoes, swim, and ride a bicycle. His patience was endless. In the last days of his life, they displayed unbelievable courage and love. Survivors: wife of twenty-five years, Susan Tabor Stephenson; Siblings, Betty (Bob) Younkins, Judy (Tom) Heyser, David (Margie) Stephenson, Michelle (Gary) Herbst, Jerry Lynn Stephenson; Children: Craig (Megan) Stephenson, Carrie (Randy) Raymo, Amy (Brent) Kearney; Step-children: Elizabeth (Daniel) Casebolt and Dennis (Judith) Mikkelson; Grandchildren, Nicolas, McKenzie, Chase and Madison Casebolt, Joel Mikkelson, Jackie, Garret, and Allison Anguilm, Kyle Raymo, Aislin and James Kearney; Brother and sister-in-law: Ron and Jacque Tabor Weesies. Share memories with the family at their on-line guestbook at www.sytsemafh.com. Arrangements by The Sytsema Chapel, Sytsema Funeral Homes, Inc. 737 Apple Ave. 231-726-5210.
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