WLKM Radio 95.9 FM
Freeman Stauffer, age 79, of Centreville, also known as Sonny, Ole Uncle Josh or Red Fox, stepped into heaven with his eyes wide open, a smile on his face and his family present on Sept. 1, 2010, at Thurston Wood Village in Sturgis.
Freeman was born May 30, 1931, in Nottawa Township, a son to the late Christian and Emily (Schwartz) Stauffer.
On Feb. 4, 1950, he married Barbara J. Schwartz in Sturgis.
Freeman had lived all of his life in Nottawa Township. He had worked at Haas Corp. in Mendon; he had farmed and later worked for the Nottawa and Colon Feed Mills, after that he owned and operated Stauffer’s Sales and Service.
Freeman was a Charter member of the Wasepi Blue Grass Gospel Singers retiring in 2005; he was a member of the Michigan Country Music Hall of Fame, and was instrumental in the starting of the Word Fellowship Church where he was an active member, until his death.
He is survived by his wife of 60 years Barbara Stauffer of Centreville, four children; Gloria (Charlie) Pomeroy of Centreville, Jack (Susan) Stauffer of Centreville, Sherry (Lee) Carr of Nottawa and Russ (Melissa) Stauffer of Centreville, thirteen grandchildren, nineteen great grandchildren one brother; Donald (Marlene) Stauffer of Centreville, two sisters; Mary Schwartz of Colon and Virginia Stauffer of Nashville, TN and many cousins, nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by three brothers; Amos, Christopher and Menno Stauffer, two sisters; Sally Zehr and Katherine Wilcox.
The family will receive relatives and friends from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m today at the Word Fellowship Church. Funeral services will be Saturday, Sept. 4, 2010 at 10 a.m. at the church with Pastors Russ Stauffer and Clint Zehr officiating. Burial will follow at Nottawa Cemetery.
If desired the family asks that memorials be made in memory of Freeman to the Word Fellowship Church.
Envelopes will be available at the Church or Schipper Funeral Home LTD. in Colon.
