Gary Alan Tuttle

Gary was born in Battle Creek, Michigan, where he grew up with his sister Debbie, enjoying the freedom and good times of a ’50s neighborhood kid. Throughout his youth, he worked first as a paper boy and later as a delivery driver for the Battle Creek Enquirer. In the summers, he played on local softball teams, competed in tennis, and even managed a local band. After graduating from Battle Creek Central High School, he attended Kellogg Community College and served in the Michigan Air National Guard. He went on to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in Business from Central Michigan University, where he was a member — and later president — of the Alpha Kappa Psi business fraternity.

In 1984, Gary opened Tuttle’s Premium Cigars and Tobaccos in the newly built Lakeview Square Mall in Battle Creek. He owned and operated the shop for several years, eventually closing this location and opening a new one in Grand Rapids after moving there with his family. At the height of cigar popularity, Gary built a loyal customer base who quickly became friends. They returned not only for quality cigars but for his witty banter and trademark sarcastic humor. He was the first in Grand Rapids to host a true “cigar lounge.” Most afternoons, the lounge was full of regulars watching sports, solving the world’s problems, and enjoying a good cigar.

In the later years of the store, Gary organized annual Christmas charity cigar dinners, raising more than $100,000 over ten years for organizations such as Santa Claus Girls and Senior Meals on Wheels — a huge financial impact by a small business. After selling his business in 2011, he relocated to Haslett, MI to be closer to family.

While attending CMU, Gary met his future wife, Jo‑anne. He proposed on their first date — and although it took her a bit longer to say yes, they married on July 17, 1976 in a small country church halfway between their hometowns of Battle Creek and Ada. They were married for 49 years. Gary was a very supportive and encouraging husband who went along with Jo‑anne’s seemingly ambitious, sometimes crazy ideas “usually” without complaint. He always made her laugh and feel special.

Gary and Jo‑anne loved traveling together, especially to the Florida Keys for over 20 years. They cherished catching gorgeous sunsets, listening to music, sharing good conversation, and preparing meals of local seafood. At home they enjoyed tackling home and yard projects, exercising, and relaxing on the deck. In their 50s, they took up running and participated in numerous running events — a point of pride for both.

In addition to being a dedicated business owner and devoted husband, Gary was an extraordinary father to his two daughters, Adrianne and Erin. Gary was a loving, involved, and supportive dad, remembered for his humor, his love of sports, and his enthusiastic presence at every school activity — often cheering the loudest and recording every moment. Their childhood was full of cuddles, bike rides, and weekend projects building swing sets and installing a backyard pool (which took way more than a weekend). He adapted well to being a dad of girls — drying and styling hair, getting them ready for school, and encouraging their interests, even though he didn’t always understand them. Seeing his daughters graduate from college, pursue their careers, marry “good guys” (as Gary described his sons‑in‑law Scott and Matt), and become loving moms gave him tremendous happiness and contentment.

Gary had few wants for himself and saved instead to create special family traditions and memories that brought his family joy — trips to Disney World, the beloved Christmas Eve “crab leg dinner,” and a special family trip to Jamaica to renew wedding vows. He savored every minute of these special times. His greatest goal in life was simple: to make his family happy.

Becoming a grandfather was one of his greatest joys and he was amazing at it. He adored his five grandchildren — Owen, Ada, Cole, Lena, and Holden — and they adored him right back. He was “Papa” to some of them and “Grandpa” to others, but loved tremendously by all. Together they baked, played outside, joked around, and enjoyed convertible rides. As with his daughters, he was there to watch his grandkids in their sports and other activities. Cousin sleepovers at his house were fun, loud, and chaotic, with Gary always there with big hugs.

Throughout his life, he was a decades‑long fan of University of Michigan sports, with a very detailed memory of every game, it seemed. He was also a lifelong music lover with broad appreciation of music from the ’60s to country to classical. After retirement, he became an avid reader, proudly tracking the books — and even the number of pages — he completed. He hoped to inspire his grandchildren by example. He also taught himself to bake, keeping family and friends well supplied with cookies, muffins, and his specialty scones. Among friends and family, Gary was known for his “friendly” obsession with correct grammar, a habit that continued even after his dementia diagnosis.

Although Gary’s journey with frontotemporal dementia (http://aftd.org) changed him greatly and was devastating to those who loved him, he was always a source of joy and pride to his family. Unselfishly, he participated in a number of research projects through the U‑M Memory and Aging Project to help the next generation. His last year was blessed with a “second family” of caregivers at The Woodlands Memory Care facility and his Hospice care team, from whom he received endless love, care, laughs, goodies, and friendships. This group of amazing caregivers meant so much to him and his family, and he was beloved by them as well.

Gary was preceded in death by his mother, Joan Davidson, and stepfather, Roger, both of Battle Creek. He is survived by his wife, Jo‑anne; daughters Adrianne (Scott) Watkins and Erin (Matt) Boeve; grandchildren Owen, Ada, Cole, Lena, and Holden; and his loving sister Debbie (Ken) Weimer. He is also survived by beloved sisters‑in‑law Char Vader and Cindy Vader, and nephews and nieces Adam (Maryn) Weimer, Jillian Weimer, Tara (Mike) Schmalz, and Spencer Vader.

A celebration of Gary’s life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Lansing (https://hospiceoflansing.org/giving/), whose compassionate care supported Gary and his family during his final year.