Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Abshire, William LeClair Jr. March 24, 2019
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Pat Currigan currigan1932@comcast.net August 8, 2020, 5:23 pm

Ionia Sentinel Standard-Wed. March 27, 2019

WILLIAM LECLAIRE ABSHIRE JR.
On December 31, 1929, the last day of the Roaring Twenties, William LeClair 
Abshire Jr. was born in Three Rivers, Michigan, to William L. and Pauline 
Ellet Abshire. Bill spent his early years in Three Rivers while enjoying 
summers at his beloved Corey lake with his parents, brother Jim, sister 
Alice, and numerous cousins.

He attended schools in Three rivers, graduating from three Rivers High school 
in 1948. Bill played football all four years of high school, being named All 
Conference end in his junior year and earning a scholarship to Western 
Illinois University.

In December of 1948, Bill enlisted in the Marine Corps for six years, 
including one year of active duty and five years in the inactive reserve. Two 
weeks after his discharge from active duty he asked Marilyn Bullard for a 
date to  see the movie Hamlet. She said yes, and that was the beginning of 
their 69 years together. They were married in August of 1950. Shortly after 
their wedding Bill was called back to active duty, serving 14 more months.

In 1954, Bill enrolled at Western Michigan University, graduating in 1957 
with a degree in social work and business. Upon graduation he took a position 
as a counselor at the reception and diagnostic center at the State Prison of 
Southern Michigan at Jackson. During this time, he became the state president 
of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Union. 
While working as the administrative assistant to the warden at Jackson, Bill 
was offered the position of deputy warden at the Michigan Training Unit in 
Ionia. The family then moved to Saranac Bill later worked at the Central 
office in Lansing where he was the Assistant Deputy Director in charge of 
prisons. When he moved to the position of warden of Riverside Correctional 
facility, he became one of eight wardens in t e state of Michigan. He retired 
in 1985. While working for the prison system, Bill's philosophy alway was to 
never contribute to man's inhumanity toward man. In life, he always tried to 
see the best in everyone.

Bill enjoyed painting (all surface), playing card, fishing, parades, picnics, 
roasting marshmallows, aliens, cats, reading (four newspapers a day) and 
watching football games. But most of all, Bill loved children. He and Marilyn 
both wanted and were blessed with a large family. His children, 
grandchildren, and great-grandchildren will always remember the stories he 
made up just for them - Once upon a time, along time ago...

Bill was always active and loved an adventure. He and Marilyn enjoyed taking 
their eight children tent camping, driving throughout the United States in 
their VW bus. They continued to travel and have adventures throughout their 
marriage.

Although Bill always said he was a luckyman, his family knows that they are 
the lucky ones for having had him in their lives. He was and will always be 
dearly loved.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Jim and his daughter, 
Christine, brother-in-law Arthur Jeffers, sister-in-law June Dechnik 
Alexander and Shirley Carter.

He is survived by his wife Marilyn, Son William LeClair III, daughters Nancy 
(Paul) Doyle, Leslie Bendall, Abbie Abshire, Sally (Don Harnish) Abshire, 
Robin (Phil) Furman, and Caroline "Carrie" (Marty) Smith. He also is survived 
by 11 grandchildren James Stewart, Jason Abshire, Jillian Skym, Mark Bendall, 
Will Bendall, Corinn Wojciechowski, Jean Page, Robert Flanagan, Mary Paiz, 
Marty Smith, Joshua Smith, 27 great-grandchildren, and 4 great-great-
grandchildren, sister Alice Jeffers and sister-in-law Bonnie Oakes.

At Bills request, the family will have a private memorial. In lieu of 
flowers, friends may contribute toward adoption fees at the Ionia County 
Animal Shelter. Arrangement in care of Lake Funeral Home of Saranac. Online 
condolences may be made at lakefuenralhomes.com

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