William Julius Casier

William Julius (Bill) Casier of Traverse City passed away Thursday, January 23, 2020 at Munson Medical Center at age 87. He was born in Flint on June 12, 1932, to Louise Fehrenbach and William Casier before the family moved to Traverse City. He graduated from St. Francis High School in 1950. On October 20, 1951, he married Betty, his high school sweetheart whom he escorted to all four of their high school proms. They were married at Immaculate Conception Church in Traverse City and raised their family in the city’s Central Neighborhood, where the Casier family were trusted friends and neighbors to many. Bill and Betty were together for 53 years before her passing on May 22, 2005. He and his son Tom were her loving caregivers in her fight against Multiple Sclerosis.

Bill wrote in his high school yearbook “I’ll make my mark in the world if I have to use a chisel”. His strong work ethic drove his diverse and rewarding business career. He was a successful Leelanau County cherry farmer throughout his life, and began custom shaking farms in Empire in 1976, harvesting upwards of a million pounds a year. He was appointed to the Michigan Plum Board by Gov. James Blanchard, and continued to play an active role in the family’s orchard and maple syrup operations of his two sons.

Bill also worked for 30 years at the Traverse Iron works, staring at the drafting table and working his way up to be foundry superintendent. From 1963-68 he owned and operated Club 31 south of Traverse City (now McGee’s 31). After the Iron Works closed, Bill and Betty purchased Shady Shores Resort on Little Glen Lake in 1985. They operated the 11-cottage resort until 1998.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife and his cousin, Robert J. Zeffero who was like a brother to Bill.

Bill is survived by five children, daughter Debbie (Guy Sauer) Purkiss of Utah; Rhonda (Bill Bartholomew) Casier of Cadillac; son, William S. Casier of Empire; daughter Libby Casier and son, Thomas Bryan Casier, both of Traverse City; five grandchildren, Elissa (Bill) Greenhoe, Michelle (Bryan) Carson, Julie, Michael and Katherine Purkiss and nine great-grandchildren; and his special canine friend, Shadow. The family is especially grateful to Tom for taking exceptional care of Bill in recent years.

The family is being assisted by the Covell Funeral Home in Traverse City, where visitation will take place on January 29 from 1-3 p.m., followed by a gathering at 6 p.m. and a rosary at 7 p.m. Funeral services will take place on January 30 at St. Francis Church in Traverse City with a 10 a.m. gathering followed by a funeral mass at 11 a.m.

Memorials may be directed to the Carmelite Monastery and the Cherryland Humane Society.