Leo J. Church

Mr. Leo J. Church
Mr. Leo J. Church, age 81, of Mio, passed away Sunday, April 6, 2008 at his home.
Visitation Wednesday April 9, 2008 from 2-8 P.M. at Lashley Funeral Home, Mio, Ml and from Noon until the time of funeral service at 1 P.M. on Thursday, April 10, 2008 at the Mio New Hope Assembly of God Church. Pastor Russell Bowman officiating, with Bill Church, Garrett Church, Steve Sydanmaa, Dick Smith, Gordy Moore and John Beatty serving as pallbearers. Military Honors offered by Luzerne American Legion Post #162. In accordance with his wishes, cremation will follow services. Interment of ashes at Wahjamega Cemetery in Caro, Ml at a later date.
Mr. Church was born to Leo M. & Onalee (Lough) Church in Flint on January 28, 1927. Leo was raised in Flint and graduated from Flint Central High School in 1944. He served his country in the US Army during WWII, from 1945-1947, leaving service with an honorable discharge. He married Mary J. Dunn on January 19, 1963 in Seattle, WA. He was formerly employed by Genesee Merchants Bank in Flint, Ml; Bank of California in Seattle, WA; First Federal in Flint, Ml; Community National Bank in Pontiac, Ml; Flint Building Company in Grand Blanc, Ml and Carpenter Construction, also in Grand Blanc, Ml. He was instrumental in the chartering of the City of Burton in 1972 and served on its first council. He moved to Mio in 1985 and fulfilled his life-long dream of owning his own business in Northern Michigan, when he purchased The Pinewood Motel in Mio. He retired (reluctantly) in 1994. He was a member of the Fenton Eagles, the Grayling F.O.E. Aerie #3465 and the Luzerne American Legion Post #162. Leo enjoyed, hunting and fishing with his sons, instilling in them a respect for firearm safety and a love for wildlife and nature.
Mr Church is survived by his loving wife Mary J.Church; his children: Leo J. ""Bill"" Church, Jr. of Rapid City, Ml; Roberta J. Church of Flint, Ml; Garrett J. Church of Mio, Ml and Launa J. Carl of Pompano Beach, FL; his sister Nancy (Bob) Sydanmaa of Berkley, Ml; his sisters-in-law Jane Church, Gladys (Gary) Breckenridge and Donna Dunn-Byus; his brothers-in-law Clayton (Linda) Dunn, Frank Dunn and Pat (Linda) Dunn; his grandchildren Chad, Shane, Rob, Angela, Alisa and Nicole; his great grandchildren Alex, Andy and Randy, and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers Richard and Robert Church, his sister Connie Sayers, his children Chad and Victoria Church and his son-in-law Richard Carl.

He dearly loved his family and friends and his trips to the casinos.

These arrangements were entrusted to Lashley Funeral Home of Mio, Michigan.