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Stuart William Seeley, Jr. of Pentwater, MI, formally of Saginaw, MI, passed away on July 4th, 2016 in Hart, MI. He was surrounded by his loving family. Bill was born on October 28, 1928 in Jackson, MI to the late Stuart and Miriam (Bechtel) Seeley. The family moved to Long Island, New York, but always retained strong ties to Michigan by spending many wonderful summers at their grandparent’s cottage on Stoney Lake.
Bill came back to Michigan State University for his degree and remained enthusiastic towards the Spartans his entire life. His lifelong career was as a dedicated biology teacher and counselor at Douglas MacArthur HS, and later at Eisenhower, both in Saginaw, MI. The sign on Mr. Seeley’s office read, “You can really speak freely with S. William Seeley”.
As a young man, Bill served in the Army. During his free time, he was able to pursue flight lessons. He learned of his passion for flying and enjoyed small single engine planes. This led to many adventures including his most memorable flight in a Piper Cub to Alaska.
In 1979, Bill married Judith Hain on the beach in Pentwater, MI. They eventually retired in Pentwater and built a rich and creative life together based on their mutual love of art, the environment and community.
In retirement, Bill’s interests were many and he was enthusiastic in all that he did. He became a well-known photographer in Pentwater. He had a skill in capturing the natural beauty of the region through his many lenses. In this pursuit, Bill became a founding member of Art on the Town, a cooperative art gallery in Pentwater. He enjoyed working with other artists and the public. Also, known as “Captain Bill”, he loved sharing his skill of salmon fishing with friends and family and taking sailing trips to the North Channel. An avid biker, he could be seen many mornings riding his bike along Pentwater Lake into town.
Bill’s sense of humor, sharp intellect and compassion will be remembered and deeply missed by his family and friends. Bill is survived by his beloved wife Judy, his daughter Janet (Scott) Miller, his stepchildren Tim (Jennifer) Hain, Karen (Carol) Hain, Garrett (Debi) Hain and grandchildren Andrew, Gwen, Jamie, Sean, Cody, Sydney, and Cameron. He is predeceased by his stepmother Francis Ayres Seeley and his sisters Lynn (Bruce) Merrill and Virginia (James) Rice. The family wishes to thank Great Lakes Hospice and Cherry Blossom Manor for their compassionate care. In honor of Bill’s life, donations may be sent to the Parkinson’s Foundation or Great Lakes Caring Hospice. A memorial will be held at a later date this summer.
