William Griswold

Bill Griswold was a kind and generous man, who would drop everything to help a friend in need. From clearing neighbors driveways to helping out on friends farms, Bill was happiest when helping others. He dedicated his life to caring for his beloved family, providing for his siblings as a teenager and for his own children as an adult. Bills strength of character, ethic of hard work, and friendly smile will live on in the hearts and memories of all those whose lives he touched. William Apolis was born on April 28, 1920, to proud parents Apolis and Florence (Withey) Griswold. Bill was their firstborn, and in the years to come was followed by six younger siblings: Margaret, Eliza, Ethel, Rebecca, Percival (Jim) and Francis. The Griswold family lived in Nunica, Michigan, where Apolis earned a living as a conductor on the Inter-Urban Railroad. Sadly, Bills father died when Bill was only a teenager, and much of the responsibility for caring for his younger siblings was shifted on to Bills young shoulders. He left school after the eighth grade, and began working full-time. He worked a number of jobs to help provide for his family, including a position in a garage where he learned how to fix engines. Florences side of the family had a farm nearby, and Bill also helped out there. When Bill was a young man, World War II broke out, and Bill felt called to serve his country. His grandparents wanted him to stay home and help run the farm but Bill and buddies joined the U.S. Army. Thanks to his work experience in the garage, Bill was selected to be an engine mechanic in the Army. He was assigned to the 333rd Engineers construction battalion, and rebuilt roads and bridges in Europe for several years. Bill was always proud to have served his country, a past member of VFW Sgt. Alvin Jonker Post 2326, and enjoyed telling stories about his experiences. After the war, Bill was honorably discharged and returned home to Michigan. It wasnt long afterwards that he met Shirley Moll, a young single mom with a daughter named Susan. Bill and Shirley met at the Barn, a roller-skating rink in Grand Haven, Michigan. They started dating, fell in love, and were married in May of 1946. Bill found work as a mechanic and equipment operator at Construction Aggregates in Ferrysburg, Michigan, where his brother Jim also worked. Construction Aggregate handled all the materials that came off freighters from Lake Michigan. Bill was a dedicated employee, and would get called in at all hours of the day and night to offload the freighters. Bill and Shirley eventually settled down in an area they called West Spring Lake on Gruenbauer Street. In the years to come, their family grew to include four new members: Diana, Karen, Gregory and Vicki. Bill was a good father, who loved spending time with his children. In the summers, he would take the whole family out for ice cream on Sundays. In the snowy winter months, Bill took the family sledding on the sand dunes of the North Shore, and ice-skating on nearby Spring Lake. For vacations, Bill and his family made many happy memories at destinations including the Upper Peninsula, the Sault Locks, Cedar Point, and Niagara Falls. Although they found out the hard way that camping wasnt really for them, they enjoyed spending time at a cabin on Sand Lake near Grant, Michigan. Closer to home, Bill and Shirley loved taking the children to the North Shore Beach in Grand Haven or out to a fun dinner at El Royal or another local restaurant. Although they had a wonderful family life while the children were at home, after their kids had grown up and moved away Bill and Shirley drifted apart. Their marriage came to an end, with Shirley moving on and Bill remaining in the house. Bill retired from Construction Aggregates in 1992, after 45 years of loyal service (he would have stayed working forever if he could!). He still kept busy, however, and worked a part-time job at Royal Motors of Muskegon, where he transported cars back and forth from used car auctions. He also purchased a tractor, and helped out on the farms of a few friends. In the winters, Bill could often be spotted snow-blowing his neighbors driveways. In 2003, Bill's only son, Greg, passed away. As he recovered from the heartbreak, he enjoyed going out to dinner on Saturdays with his sister, Ethel, whom he was close to. He was a familiar face around town, especially at Leppink's grocery, where he was an almost daily visitor. He often stopped in to pick up an item or two, and was on a first-name basis with many of the folks there. He was always accompanied by his dog, Sam, who has been his faithful companion for the past nine years. Bill was baptized four years ago where his daughters attend services at St. Luke Lutheran Church of Nunica. Recently, the years began to take their toll, and Bill had a bad fall. It became necessary for him to move into a nursing home, and he made the transition well. He felt comfortable in the home, and he was very popular with the staff. Hard working, friendly, and loyal, Bill was a devoted father, a loving grandfather, and a good friend. He will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered by his many friends and family members. Mr. William Bill Apolis Griswold died on November 19, 2012, at Heartwood Lodge Hospice Home, at the age of 92. Bills family includes his children, Susan (Norman) Meyer of Spring Lake, Diana (Melvin) Bouwkamp of Grand Haven, Karen (Dean) Shears of Grand Haven, and Vicki (John Thompson) Bryant of Grand Haven; his grandchildren, Kimberly (Larry) Holmes, Kyle Hansen, and Beth Hansen; his great-grandchildren, Ashley, Holly, April, and Felicity; his great-great-grandchildren, Jayden and Ryder; his sisters, Margaret Trowbridge of OH, Ethel Czarny of Rothbury, and Rebecca (Clarence) VerBerkmoses of Grand Haven; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his son, Gregory, in 2003; his granddaughter, Babs Pellegrom, in 2012; his brothers, Francis and Percival "Jim"; and his sister, Eliza Pavlin. A celebration of Bills life will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, November 24, with visitation 1 hour prior to the service, at St. Luke Lutheran Church of Nunica. Rev. William Lahrman will officiate. Memorials may be directed to St. Luke Lutheran Building Fund or Hospice of North Ottawa. Please visit Bills personal memory page at www.clockfuneralhome.com, where you can learn more about his life, share a favorite memory or photo, and sign the online guestbook.