Eli Alexander Fleetwood

Eli was born in Battle Creek, Mich., on November 20, 2006. When he was 3.5, he and his sisters moved to Marshall where they lived with their foster parents, Beth Stuever and Jeff Fleetwood. Sixteen months later, the couple adopted the threesome that they affectionately referred to as “the triblings.” Eli enjoyed spending his summers between the Stuever family farm and the Sleeping Bear Dunes area.

In 2014, the family moved to Okemos, Mich., where Eli quickly felt at home at Hiawatha Elementary School, in yards of his Briarwood neighbors and in the parks of Meridian Township. He loved escorting his teachers around the Ingham County Fair each summer and showing off his 4-H projects and those of his club. True to his nature, Eli seldom sat still. More often, he played until exhausted and laid in an awkward position, repeating, “I’m not tired,” until he fell asleep.

In 2020, Zach Goldstein became a permanent fixture in the Stuever-Fleetwood home. As the pandemic spread, Dr. Goldstein took the extra precautions necessary to be part of the family’s bubble. He was quick to respond to Eli’s daily texts complaining that “there are too many chicks in this house.” The two would spend their waking hours social distancing in the fresh air by biking, fishing, kayaking, swimming or walking Hoonah the dog. Zach taught Eli how to start a campfire, land a big pike and relax in a hammock tied between any two random trees. Eli taught Zach how to love someone like a son—unconditionally and without regret. In the fall of 2020, while dealing with the challenges of online school and the dissolution of his parent’s marriage, Eli moved in with Zach. Later that year, Beth set her own needs aside and agreed to make the arrangement permanent. Eli, Jaye, Ali, Beth and Zach became one family living in two households. Ali began telling people that Zach is her “big bro” and both sisters delighted in adding a brother to their family.

In the best interest of Eli’s mental health, he and Zach moved to Beth’s hometown of Capac, Mich., in the fall of 2021. There, the Stuever family and entire school community embraced them. Eli joined the wrestling team and the Boy Scouts. He loved helping Zach teach CPR to the Scouts.

Eli was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, Alfred and Doris (Brennan) Stuever. He is survived by his parents, Zach Goldstein, Beth Stuever, and Jeff Fleetwood; sisters Jaye and Ali Fleetwood; grandparents Betsy Fleetwood and Andrew and Lisa Goldstein; and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and too many important friends to mention.

The family is thankful for the friendship and caring of his many teammates and coaches, 4-H volunteers and friends, and for the counselors, psychiatrists and police who always treated Eli with kindness.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a gift to the Meridian Township Parks and Recreation Department, 2100 Gaylord C. Smith Court, Haslett, MI 48840, or Capac Community Schools (Wrestling Team), P.O. Box 610, Capac, MI 48014.

To honor Eli’s memories, the family asks that you take some time to live like Eli. Explore a park, toss a lacrosse ball around, swim, fish or hike. Catch a snake or a turtle. Search for lizards. Do a “crazy dive” into a pool. Go somewhere you’ve never been before without fear or reluctance. Tell people you love them. Even your sisters who are annoying the heck out of you. And if you are suffering, ask for help. Eli did all of that, and you should, too.

A funeral service for Eli will be held Monday, June 13, 2022 at 3:00 PM at Gorsline Runciman Funeral Homes, 1730 East Grand River Ave, East Lansing, MI 48823, with a visitation following from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM. A committal service will occur Tuesday, June 14, 2022 at 12:00 PM at Lynn Cemetery, Sterling Rd, Yale, MI 48097. The family invites those who wish to attend the service virtually to do so at the following link, http://webcast.funeralvue.com/events/viewer/74810

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.greastlansing.com for the Fleetwood family.