William A. ’Bill’ Gartland
GLADSTONE, Mich. — William A. “Bill” Gartland, age 87, of Gladstone, passed away Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2016, at U.P. Health System in Marquette.
Bill was born May 29, 1929, in Escanaba, Mich., the son of Hugh and Evelyn (Moreau) Gartland, the eldest of three children. He began his working life at the coal docks of Escanaba, then entered the United States Army, serving for two years, stationed in Germany. Upon Bill’s discharge, he began working as a machinist at Harnischfeger Corporation until the plant closed in 1986. He also worked for Bosk Painting and Sandblasting. He did a variety of other jobs including laying concrete, doing brickwork, and putting up buildings. Many of the buildings in Escanaba include Bill’s workmanship. He was an avid outdoorsman, enjoying deer hunting at the Northland camp, and fishing on Lake Superior. He loved spending summers at the cottage in AuTrain and gathering wood for the upcoming winter.
He will be sadly missed by his wife, family, and friends at the Escanaba Dialysis Center.
In addition to his loving wife of 55 years, Beverly (Bunno) Gartland, survivors include: five sons: Steven (Kim) Gartland, William Jr. (Kathy) Gartland, Timothy (Traci) Gartland, Douglas (Dianne) Gartland and Randy (Patti) Gartland; two daughters, Sharon Russell and Linda Russell; one brother, Ken (Pat) Gartland; one sister, Darlene McGeary; grandchildren, Steven Jr., Nathan, Chad, Samantha, Amanda, Lisa, Jennifer, Jason, Amber, Kacey, Jake, Alisha, and Miranda; great-grandchildren, Timothy, Andi Lynn, Varrah, Blake, Kenzi, Brennan, Rylan, Koda, Oakley, Jacob, Anna, Cameron, Shannon, and Aylah; and many nieces and nephews.
Bill was preceded in death by: his parents; brother-in-law, Ralph McGeary; great-grandchildren, Hunter and Parker Gartland
Graveside services are scheduled for Friday, Dec. 16, at 1 p.m. at Fernwood Cemetery in Gladstone, Mich., with Rev. Fr. Jamie Ziminski officiating prayers. Memorial contributions may be directed in his honor to Fresenius Kidney Care Center, 3501 Ludington St., Escanaba, MI 49829. The Skradski Family Funeral Homes of Delta County are assisting the Gartland family. Please visit www.skradskifuneralhomes.com where you may leave messages of condolence to the family.