Willard Gene Fitzgerald

Willard Gene Fitzgerald passed away on February 16, 2024, at Sparrow Hospice House of Lansing, Michigan surrounded by family. Willard was born in Dayton, Tennessee on December 15, 1932. He lived in Dayton until he was 17 years old before moving north to Lansing, where he met and married Helen Templin. They were married for 71 years. Together, Willard and Helen have four children.

Willard was man of faith, family, and laughter. He made sure everyone held hands to pray before every meal, that his family was always together for important days and regular ones, and was always quick with a sly joke and quiet chuckle. He loved spending time with his best friends, Red Chorley, Fred Engel, and John Olsen. Recounting their antics when they were gone brought the biggest smile to his face. Willard spoiled his dogs and his cars, keeping them both well fed and regularly bathed.

Willard and Helen’s house has been a gathering space for generations of families: big Christmas parties, anniversaries, graduations, fires in the woods. And Willard always kept his family and friends in good food: if you left his house without cornbread, gravy bread, sauerkraut, or green beans you only had yourself to blame. He loved to sit back and watch life unfold around him and found such joy in watching his grandchildren and great grandchildren grow.

Despite having multiple heart attacks over the course of his life, his heart and hands were strong. Willard was an ironworker with Local 426 before retiring to travel the country with Helen. Together they made their way across the U.S. and back many times before settling in Arizona for winters. Although he spent most of his life in Michigan, he was southern boy at heart and loved the heat and sunshine.

Willard is survived by his wife, Helen; his four children: Vickie, Willam (Angelika), Randy (Becky), and Ed (Carla), seven grandchildren: Julie Durham (Jon), Chad, Daniel (Kathryn), Tyler Root (Ruth), Bianca, Matthew (Taylor), and Sam; and three great-grandchildren: Quinley, Lorelei, and Theo, his cherished nephew Jim Oisten (Arlene), and dear friends Bud Hanshew and Edwina Engel. He has joined the Lord with his parents Lula and Arch, brothers and sisters William, Talmadge, Coreba, Margie, Joann, and Glenn and many dear friends.

Memorial services will be held on Wednesday, February 21st, 12:00pm at the Woodview Nazarene Church in Lansing, Michigan with Pastor Devon Staples officiating. A luncheon will follow. Internment at Deepdale Cemetery will be at a later date.

The family will receive visitors from 4:00 to 7:00 pm Tuesday, February 20th at Gorsline Runciman Funeral Homes at 900 East Michigan Ave. in Lansing, Michigan.

The family would like to thank Sparrow Hospice and the congregants of Woodview Nazarene Church for their support and comfort and direct to them any memorial gifts in Willard’s honor.