William C. Gatchell

William C. Gatchell, Jr., 86, of Sodus, passed away Saturday, March 24, 2012 at Lakeland Hospital in Niles. Celebration of Life Services will be held 11:30 A.M. Wednesday at Napier Parkview Baptist Church, 245 W. Napier Ave., Benton Harbor, with Dr. J.O. Hosler officiating. Burial will follow at North Shore Memory Gardens, Coloma. Friends may call from 10:00 A.M. to 11:30 A.M. Wednesday at the church. Memorials may be made to Napier Parkview Baptist Church. Those wishing to sign Bill’s Memory Book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. Bill was born January 30, 1926 in Benton Harbor to William C. & Hannah (Maikowski) Gatchell, Sr. He graduated from Benton Harbor High School in 1944 where he was a member of the football & basketball teams. On February 11, 1966, he married the former Ruth Albrecht Hansen. He was a charter member of Napier Parkview Baptist Church where he participated on the softball & basketball teams and served as a Sunday School teacher. Bill enjoyed farming, and was active most of his life on his farm in Benton Township. He was also an electrician by trade, and worked for OK, Burbach & Jewell Electric before retiring from Modern Plastics in 1988. In his spare time, Bill enjoyed deer hunting & fishing, and rooting for the Detroit Tigers. Bill is survived by his wife Ruth; his children-Danny (Mary) Gatchell & Denelle Hunt, both of St. Joseph; two step-sons-Ken (Rosalie) Hansen, Sr., of Stevensville, Robert (Marie) Hansen of Bristol, IN; ten grandchildren; seventeen great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; his sister Minnie Webb of Benton Harbor; and numerous nieces & nephews. He was preceded in death by three sisters & two brothers.