William Mansfield

William A. Mansfield was a devoted family man. He and his wife Norma raised three wonderful children and William knew he had to work hard to provide for his valuable family. He taught his kids the value of hard work, and he also taught them how to kick back and relax. William was an avid sports fan and after retirement he enjoyed spending his extra down time following baseball, golf and hockey. One of his favorite teams to watch was the Detroit Red Wings.

William and Josephine (Michelson) Mansfield were beaming with pride the day their son William A. Mansfield was born. He entered the world on April 17, 1931 and shared his childhood with his sister's, Shirley and Betty. Times were tough in the 1930's because of the Great Depression that followed the 1929 Stock Market Crash. William focused on his studies at St. Alphonsus Catholic School and served as an Altar Boy at St. Alphonsus Catholic Church. He played baseball in high school which led to the opportunity to play semi-pro ball on the Sullivan Team. He also found time during high school to work at Eberhard Grocery Store.

During William's school days, school children from a variety of different schools met at the same bus stop. One morning when William was sixteen he met a beautiful young girl named Norma Wecker at his bus stop. Norma attended Union High School and William struck up a conversation with her that eventually led to a marriage of fifty-four cherished years.

The young couple raised their three children, William, Sheila and Pamela on the west side of Grand Rapids. William worked hard to provide for the family and he held down a variety of jobs. He worked for Consumers Power Company, sold meats for Farmer Pete Meats and later sold Bars Leak, which was a radiator repair solution. After that he worked for Jack Keller Ford and all the while looking for extra work like installing floors for Carpet Villa.

Due to some medical problems, William retired in 1990 and he and Norma moved out near Sand Lake. Norma's family had property on Lake Englewright and there they built a new home for themselves and enjoyed the solace and beauty of their surroundings.

William and Norma's children grew up and blessed them with eight wonderful grandchildren. William had a loving family and they will hold their memories of him in their hearts and cherish the times they had. William Mansfield will be dearly missed.

Mr. William A. Mansfield, age 75 of Sand Lake passed away Tuesday August 29, 2006 and went to be with his Lord and Savior. Surviving are his wife of 54 years, Norma, his children William Walter and Cyndi Mansfield, Sheila and Cliff Dake, Pamela Myers and her friend David Shannon, 8 grandchildren, his sister and brother-in-law Shirley and Floyd Van Allsburg and nieces and nephews. Mass of the Christian Burial will be held Thursday at 11:00a.m. at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, 1200 Alpine Church Rd, Relatives and friends are invited to meet the family at Holy Trinity Church Thursday from 9:00a.m. until the time of the funeral mass. For those who wish, memorial contributions to Holy Trinity Church or Visiting Nurse Association Hospice, 1401 Cedar Street N.E. Grand Rapids, MI. would be appreciated. Please go to www.lifestorynet.com to leave a memory or sign the online register book.