After a three-year courageous battle with cancer, Harry Andrew Sweebe, Jr. of Midland, finished his race and ran into the arms of his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ on July 27, 2017. Born November 11, 1943 in Ludington, MI, Harry was the first (and only) son of Harry and Kathleen (Woodrow) Sweebe. Being the only boy in the nursery at the time, the nurse named him "Butch". The name stuck, and his family kept that nickname. When he was in grade school, the family moved to Fisherville, MI.
He attended Bay City Handy for a couple years before moving to Midland, and graduated from Midland High School in 1962. Always a man of hard work and integrity, he worked on neighboring farms and followed his father's footsteps working in the construction field until he was drafted into the U.S. Army, April 8, 1965. He proudly served his country, including a tour of duty in Vietnam during 1966-67.
After basic training, he committed his faithfulness to his blushing bride, June 21, 1965. Against all odds, they forged a strong marriage and lived their life together knowing divorce was not an option. The tour of duty separated them for a year at the beginning of their marriage, but it only made their love and commitment stronger, and by the grace of God he returned home to Midland to his wife and infant daughter.
Harry was blessed to work for Gerace Construction for 15 years and so enjoyed the Gerace family and the annual picnics. In 1983, Harry became part owner of RCL Construction in Sanford, MI. He gave his all to help build RCL to a successful business, and was more interested in being on the job, working in the field, than being inside in an office. Nothing was beneath him. If it needed to be done, he was willing to do it.
After selling his portion of the business in 2001, he spent a few months free to do whatever he wanted; however, his strong work ethic drove him back into the workforce and he spent the next 14 years as an Associate at Ware-Smith-Woolever Funeral Home – a position that transformed him into a social magnet! He cared about every family who entered the doors of the funeral home, and did his very best to make certain every detail was covered and the family's needs were met.
Harry was an active member of St. John's Lutheran Church and loved the Lord and shared his faith through his service to others. He was a faithful and devoted husband to, and a loving and mentoring father to his children, as well as a great example of humbleness, love and fun "Pa" to his grandchildren. He was a helpful neighbor, affectionately called "The Mayor of Lantern Lane", or "Misser Harry", and would do anything to help someone else.
He loved being outdoors, hunting in his earlier years, and ice fishing with his buddy. Any day with a fishing pole in his hand was a good day!
Predeceased in death by his parents, sisters Baby Harriett Sweebe, Myrna (Raymond) Behmlander, Bonnie Frick and her husband Hugh, Alice Miehlke, brother-in-law Raymond Parker, father-in-law Emerson and mother-in-law Clara Schieber, brother-in-law Lyle Schieber, sister-in-law Dora Schieber, niece Beth Frick and nephew Chad Schieber.
Graveside Military Honors will take place at Midland Cemetery.
He attended Bay City Handy for a couple years before moving to Midland, and graduated from Midland High School in 1962. Always a man of hard work and integrity, he worked on neighboring farms and followed his father's footsteps working in the construction field until he was drafted into the U.S. Army, April 8, 1965. He proudly served his country, including a tour of duty in Vietnam during 1966-67.
After basic training, he committed his faithfulness to his blushing bride, June 21, 1965. Against all odds, they forged a strong marriage and lived their life together knowing divorce was not an option. The tour of duty separated them for a year at the beginning of their marriage, but it only made their love and commitment stronger, and by the grace of God he returned home to Midland to his wife and infant daughter.
Harry was blessed to work for Gerace Construction for 15 years and so enjoyed the Gerace family and the annual picnics. In 1983, Harry became part owner of RCL Construction in Sanford, MI. He gave his all to help build RCL to a successful business, and was more interested in being on the job, working in the field, than being inside in an office. Nothing was beneath him. If it needed to be done, he was willing to do it.
After selling his portion of the business in 2001, he spent a few months free to do whatever he wanted; however, his strong work ethic drove him back into the workforce and he spent the next 14 years as an Associate at Ware-Smith-Woolever Funeral Home – a position that transformed him into a social magnet! He cared about every family who entered the doors of the funeral home, and did his very best to make certain every detail was covered and the family's needs were met.
Harry was an active member of St. John's Lutheran Church and loved the Lord and shared his faith through his service to others. He was a faithful and devoted husband to, and a loving and mentoring father to his children, as well as a great example of humbleness, love and fun "Pa" to his grandchildren. He was a helpful neighbor, affectionately called "The Mayor of Lantern Lane", or "Misser Harry", and would do anything to help someone else.
He loved being outdoors, hunting in his earlier years, and ice fishing with his buddy. Any day with a fishing pole in his hand was a good day!
Predeceased in death by his parents, sisters Baby Harriett Sweebe, Myrna (Raymond) Behmlander, Bonnie Frick and her husband Hugh, Alice Miehlke, brother-in-law Raymond Parker, father-in-law Emerson and mother-in-law Clara Schieber, brother-in-law Lyle Schieber, sister-in-law Dora Schieber, niece Beth Frick and nephew Chad Schieber.
Graveside Military Honors will take place at Midland Cemetery.
After a three-year courageous battle with cancer, Harry Andrew Sweebe, Jr. of Midland, finished his race and ran into the arms of his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ on July 27, 2017. Born November 11, 1943 in Ludington, MI, Harry was the first (and only) son of Harry and Kathleen (Woodrow) Sweebe. Being the only boy in the nursery at the time, the nurse named him "Butch". The name stuck, and his family kept that nickname. When he was in grade school, the family moved to Fisherville, MI.
He attended Bay City Handy for a couple years before moving to Midland, and graduated from Midland High School in 1962. Always a man of hard work and integrity, he worked on neighboring farms and followed his father's footsteps working in the construction field until he was drafted into the U.S. Army, April 8, 1965. He proudly served his country, including a tour of duty in Vietnam during 1966-67.
After basic training, he committed his faithfulness to his blushing bride, June 21, 1965. Against all odds, they forged a strong marriage and lived their life together knowing divorce was not an option. The tour of duty separated them for a year at the beginning of their marriage, but it only made their love and commitment stronger, and by the grace of God he returned home to Midland to his wife and infant daughter.
Harry was blessed to work for Gerace Construction for 15 years and so enjoyed the Gerace family and the annual picnics. In 1983, Harry became part owner of RCL Construction in Sanford, MI. He gave his all to help build RCL to a successful business, and was more interested in being on the job, working in the field, than being inside in an office. Nothing was beneath him. If it needed to be done, he was willing to do it.
After selling his portion of the business in 2001, he spent a few months free to do whatever he wanted; however, his strong work ethic drove him back into the workforce and he spent the next 14 years as an Associate at Ware-Smith-Woolever Funeral Home – a position that transformed him into a social magnet! He cared about every family who entered the doors of the funeral home, and did his very best to make certain every detail was covered and the family's needs were met.
Harry was an active member of St. John's Lutheran Church and loved the Lord and shared his faith through his service to others. He was a faithful and devoted husband to, and a loving and mentoring father to his children, as well as a great example of humbleness, love and fun "Pa" to his grandchildren. He was a helpful neighbor, affectionately called "The Mayor of Lantern Lane", or "Misser Harry", and would do anything to help someone else.
He loved being outdoors, hunting in his earlier years, and ice fishing with his buddy. Any day with a fishing pole in his hand was a good day!
Predeceased in death by his parents, sisters Baby Harriett Sweebe, Myrna (Raymond) Behmlander, Bonnie Frick and her husband Hugh, Alice Miehlke, brother-in-law Raymond Parker, father-in-law Emerson and mother-in-law Clara Schieber, brother-in-law Lyle Schieber, sister-in-law Dora Schieber, niece Beth Frick and nephew Chad Schieber.
Graveside Military Honors will take place at Midland Cemetery.
He attended Bay City Handy for a couple years before moving to Midland, and graduated from Midland High School in 1962. Always a man of hard work and integrity, he worked on neighboring farms and followed his father's footsteps working in the construction field until he was drafted into the U.S. Army, April 8, 1965. He proudly served his country, including a tour of duty in Vietnam during 1966-67.
After basic training, he committed his faithfulness to his blushing bride, June 21, 1965. Against all odds, they forged a strong marriage and lived their life together knowing divorce was not an option. The tour of duty separated them for a year at the beginning of their marriage, but it only made their love and commitment stronger, and by the grace of God he returned home to Midland to his wife and infant daughter.
Harry was blessed to work for Gerace Construction for 15 years and so enjoyed the Gerace family and the annual picnics. In 1983, Harry became part owner of RCL Construction in Sanford, MI. He gave his all to help build RCL to a successful business, and was more interested in being on the job, working in the field, than being inside in an office. Nothing was beneath him. If it needed to be done, he was willing to do it.
After selling his portion of the business in 2001, he spent a few months free to do whatever he wanted; however, his strong work ethic drove him back into the workforce and he spent the next 14 years as an Associate at Ware-Smith-Woolever Funeral Home – a position that transformed him into a social magnet! He cared about every family who entered the doors of the funeral home, and did his very best to make certain every detail was covered and the family's needs were met.
Harry was an active member of St. John's Lutheran Church and loved the Lord and shared his faith through his service to others. He was a faithful and devoted husband to, and a loving and mentoring father to his children, as well as a great example of humbleness, love and fun "Pa" to his grandchildren. He was a helpful neighbor, affectionately called "The Mayor of Lantern Lane", or "Misser Harry", and would do anything to help someone else.
He loved being outdoors, hunting in his earlier years, and ice fishing with his buddy. Any day with a fishing pole in his hand was a good day!
Predeceased in death by his parents, sisters Baby Harriett Sweebe, Myrna (Raymond) Behmlander, Bonnie Frick and her husband Hugh, Alice Miehlke, brother-in-law Raymond Parker, father-in-law Emerson and mother-in-law Clara Schieber, brother-in-law Lyle Schieber, sister-in-law Dora Schieber, niece Beth Frick and nephew Chad Schieber.
Graveside Military Honors will take place at Midland Cemetery.
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