William Gulledge Obituary

On Saturday, June 14th, 2025, William Lee "Bill" Gulledge, 85, of Higgins Lake, passed away peacefully in the company of his loved ones at Munson Medical Center in Grayling, Michigan.
Bill was born on July 21,1939, in Battle Creek, Michigan, the only child of William and Virginia Gulledge (née Silver). He spent his childhood in Battle Creek, living in the same house as his grandparents. His grandfather had been working on the Grand Trunk Train. Bill loved to tell stories about his adventures with his grandfather. His father, William, was an avid sportsman and played baseball, passing on his love of sports to Bill.
After high school, Bill joined the Coast Guard. Later, he worked for the Merchant Marines, providing ships with communications using Morse code. He was extremely knowledgeable about the maritime industry and had many stories to tell. Through his work, he lived close to the great lakes, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Atlantic and Pacific coasts. He worked on icebreaker and weather ships in the North Atlantic. This enabled him to discover his own country. Travelling and exploring new places became his passion. He travelled extensively around the United States and Europe.
Bill and Nina met in 1984. Their relationship flourished, and they married in Switzerland on 29 August 1986. This made him a member of a very large family immediately, as Nina is one of ten children. Bill fathered Bill Jr. and later, with Nina they had Catarina.
Bill was very active and competitive; he enjoyed baseball, helping out with Cape Cod baseball games, cycling, competing in races, ice skating and rollerblading, and later cross-country skiing.
After retiring, he moved back to Higgins Lake, where he spent his time working in the garden, picking berries (which he counted meticulously), and watering the flowers, while helping Nina with household chores. As his physical condition declined, he enjoyed playing challenging Microsoft games. His mind remained sharp until the end.
Bill loved God and the church and enjoyed helping with community dinners and other church tasks. He also helped with Vacation Bible School and was part of the financial team. Reading the daily devotion and the Bible was part of his daily routine. Bill will be remembered for his stories and for supporting his family. He was proud of his children's achievements and was always there to support and teach them. As a dedicated father, he was very involved in their lives. He was overjoyed when his granddaughter Madeline was born.
Bill will be greatly missed by his family and friends. He is survived by his beloved wife of almost 39 years, Nina; his son, William Lee Gulledge Jr., of Randolph, MA; his daughter, Catarina, and her husband, Tyler Tallman, of Oakwood, OH; and his granddaughter, Madeline.
The family has chosen to celebrate his life at a later date.
Wagner and Walsh Funeral Directors, Roscommon, handled the arrangements.
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