Born on October 18, 1922 in Nashville, Michigan to Della and William Phelps. Mack’s parents were “truck farmers” so they lived in several different locations in Michigan, including Nashville, Okemos, Webberville, Williamston and Linden. He graduated from Linden High School in 1941.
Mack was a veteran of WWII, serving with the 38th division in the Philippines and receiving a purple heart after being wounded in the leg by machine gun fire on the island of Luzon in March of 1945. After a lengthy recovery from the wound in his leg, Mack took advantage of the GI bill and received a bachelors degree in business administration from Michigan State College in 1950 (now Michigan State University) and was an avid Michigan State sports fan.
Mack was employed as an accountant for MESSA (Michigan Education Special Service Association) for 21 years and retired from there in 1987.
He married Jeanette Campbell on March 28, 1951 and together they had seven children and celebrated 58 years of marriage. Mack was a devoted husband and father and is now reunited with Jeanette, who predeceased him in October of 2009.
Mack is survived by his children Mary (Rick) Robinson, Rose Ann (Marv) Slee, Robert (Maureen) Phelps, Nancy (Paul) Gonzalez, Mack (Vicki) Phelps, Sharon (Steve) Garcia, and Steve (Beth) Phelps, 22 grandchildren Jamie Backowski, Kelly Cygan, Brian Robinson, Scott and Mark Slee, Bob, Mike, Chris and Jeff Phelps, Andrea, Jay, Kristin and Eric McCulloh, Katie Gonzalez, Monica Renck, Tanya Phelps, and Diana Poehler, Mary Beth, Matthew and Annie Garcia, and Thomas and Megan Phelps and 15 great-grandchildren.
While Mack faced many trials in his life, he never lost his gratitude for the gifts from God that he was given, including his loving wife and children. He will be remembered by all for his kindness, generosity, patience, sense of playfulness, the twinkle in his eye when he was up to something, and his wicked sense of humor.
The funeral mass celebrating Mack’s life will be at 11:00 am on Saturday February 17th at St Mary Catholic Church, 157 High Street, Williamston Michigan. Visitation will be Friday, February 16th from 4-8 pm, with a rosary at 7:30 pm, at the Gorsline Runciman Funeral Home, 205 Middle Street, Williamston Michigan and at the church for one hour (10 am) prior to the service.
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