WLKM Radio 95.9 FM
George Elon Soule passed away at Heartland Health Care Center in Three Rivers on December 15, 2012 of natural causes. George was born on December 17, 1928 in Three Rivers Michigan. George was the fourth of six children born to Levi and Florence (Heckleman) Soule. George graduated from Three Rivers High School in 1947. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict. Following the war he returned to Three Rivers and took up farming.
On June 5,1955 he married the love of his life Clara Jane Wall in Sturgis, MI. They made their home together in Mendon for the next 43 years. George and Clara were active in the community and spent many years in charge of the Mendon Food Panty. He also served as a Boy Scout leader, a member of the American Legion, and was Past Commander of VFW Post 4898 in Mendon.
George was employed at Weyerhaeuser and Clifton Engineering in Three Rivers retiring from Carlton Equipment in Kalamazoo in 1990. In later years George loved working at Island Hills Golf Club.
In the mid 1970’s George built a cottage on Sand Lake in Nottawa where his family enjoyed spending many summers. George loved wood working and built many Adirondack chairs and bird houses over the years. He enjoyed golf, bowling and playing cards and bingo with friends and family.
George was preceded in death by his parents; wife Clara; son Randy; father in law and mother in law Richard Wall and Sarah Wall; and brother, Cleon Soule.
George is survived by his sons, Steven (Laura) of Sturgis and Scott (Karen) of Three Rivers and Rodney of Colorado Springs, CO. ; step granddaughter, Kristen of Muskegon; one brother, Warren of Centreville; three sisters, Virginia Edergly of Dowagiac, Dorothy Holm of Three Rivers, and Ruth Mader of Oshtemo. George is also survived by many nieces and nephews, and longtime neighbors and good friends John and Alice Zinsmaster, Herb Bruystens, and his beloved dachshund “C.J”.
Visitation will be from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, December 18, 2012 and from noon to at 1 p.m. Wednesday Dec. 19, 2012 at the Eickhoff Funeral Home in Mendon. Funeral services will begin at 1 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home with Rev. Roger Moyer officiating. Military interment will take place in Oaklawn Cemetery in Sturgis. The family has asked that Memorials can be made to Mendon Food Cupboard. Condolences may be left for the family at www.eickhofffuneralhome.com
