Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Zander, Sylvester "Gene" Eugene July 19, 2020
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Pat Currigan currigan1932@comcast.net June 19, 2021, 5:49 pm

Ionia Sentinel Standard-Sat. July 25, 2020

Sylvester Zander
Sylvester Eugene Zander took his final flight to be with the lord on July 19, 
2020, in Lyons, Michigan, surrounded by his family after a lengthy battle 
with illness. He was 88 years of age. Gene was an accomplished professional 
pilot and aircraft mechanic, having a brilliant, analytical mind and 
achieving absolutely anything he set his mind to with perfection, but 
sometimes reminded by his family "it doesn't need to fly."

He was born Dec. 6, 1931, in Ionia, Michigan, the son of August Henry Fred 
Zander and Gertrude Ross (Darling) Zander. After graduating from Ionia High 
School in 1950, Gene began his lifelong dream to fly becoming both a private 
and commercial airplane pilot. He joined the air force at age 18 years of 
age, serving four years in the 301st Periodic Maintenance Squadron as an 
Aircraft & Engine Mechanic and B-29 Specialist, partially in the Korean War. 
After leaving the Air Force in 1954 he enrolled at Northrup Aeronautical 
Institute of Technology in California. One year later, during a short break 
from college, Gene flew home to marry his forever "sweetheart" Bea in a 
ceremony Dec. 23, 1955, at the Lyons Baptist Church in Lyons.

He went n to graduate from both Northrup Aeronautical and the California 
Aeronautical Institute of Technology, earning both private and commercial 
airplane pilots' ratings. He worked as an airworthiness inspector for the 
state of Michigan at Capital City Airport for 32 years, retiring in 1991 
after having achieved the highly respected position as director of 
maintenance for the Aeronautical Department of the state of Michigan. After 
retirement he worked for a number of years at Ionia County airport and 
enjoyed flying his airplane and taking people for their first ride. He loved 
traveling with his wife Bea, having visited all contiguous U.S. states plus 
Alaska and meeting many new friends along the way.

Everyone who knew Gene knew he was quite a talker, never shy to befriend a 
stranger and even less shy of his love for airplanes. In his later years he 
enjoyed having coffee with many friends, and spending time with his family 
and most especially his grandchildren, having shared with many of them his 
love for travel.

Gene continued to live in the home he built in 1959 in Lyons with his wife 
until his death. Gene is survived by his wife of 64 years, Beatrice Elaine 
(Ralph) Zander, children; Gene (Pat) Zander of Lyons, Jerry (Molly) Zander of 
Muir and John (Marcia) Zander of Lyons, Grandchildren; Tonya (Nate) Bradshaw, 
Matt Zander, Lezlee Murphy, Jake (Heidi) Zander, Charley (Becca) Zander, 
Nicole Zander, Wyatt Zander, Chloe Zander and brother Bob Zander, 20 great-
grandchildren that he loved very much. Gene was preceded in death by his 
father August Fred Zander, mother Laura Shultz, Doris Campbell, Dora Miller, 
Cynthia Lujan & Gertrude Sheldon, one brother Laurence Zander. Gene will be 
laid to rest in Lyons cemetery on (date) of service.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, July 25, 2020, at Shiloh Community 
Church with Rev. Kenneth Harger officiating. Interment Lyons Cemetery. 
Arrangements in care of Lake Funeral Home in Muir. Memorial contributions may 
be made to the family. Online condolences may be made at lakefuneralhomes.com

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mi/ionia/obits/z/zander40530nob.txt

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