Orson Franklin Poley, Jr.

Orson Franklin Poley, Jr., age 95 of Sturgis, Mich. passed away Sunday evening February 23, 2020 at his home.

He was born September 8, 1924 in Raisin Township, Lenawee County, Mich., son of the late Orson F. and Annie E. (Fackler) Poley, Sr.

Orson was a veteran of the U.S. Army, serving during WWII where he flew B-29 Bombers and earned the rank of Flight Officer. While home on leave, he saw a group of girls who were hitchhiking. Orson stopped to pick them up, that was when he met the love of his life, Willie Hearld. They were married June 22, 1946 and spent the next 73 years together.

Orson and Willie worked at the Kirsch Company in Sturgis and owned and operated Poley’s Super Market on East Chicago Road in Sturgis across from the post office for 17 years. He then worked at the Continental Can Co. in Three Rivers for a short period of time. He returned to his butcher profession and worked for Garden City, A&P Grocery Store and retired from the Congress Street Meat Market. He did not stay retired for long as he processed many deer during hunting season.

  
Orson was an active longtime member of the Trinity Lutheran Church in Sturgis where he served as an Elder. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, trapping turtles with his brother, so there was fried turtle at family reunions. He also loved spending time with his family, playing cards, scuba diving, and boating.

He was preceded in death by his sons: Norman E. Poley and Orson F. Poley, III; daughter, Cheryl “Sherry” Birkhold; granddaughter, Jennifer Dickerson-Sult; brothers, Richard and Neil Poley; sisters, Lucille Saunders and Betsy Pierucki; and sons-in-law, Jim Gyomory and Barry Cheeks.

He is survived to cherish his memory by his loving and dedicated wife of 73 years, Willodean; sister, Diana Krueger; daughters, Teresa “Terri” (Rick) Dickerson and Carol Goymory; granddaughters, Kimberly (Eric) Birkhold Ellner, Amy (Dave) Birkhold-Fowler, Diana (Dave) Dickerson-Weed, and Cassondra “Casey” (Marty) Wentworth Hemple; grandsons, Nicholas Dickerson, Jason Wentworth and Earlin Cheeks; 19 great-grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren.

The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. Friday at the Hackman Chapel of Hackman Family Funeral Homes, 114 S. Nottawa St., Sturgis, MI, 49091, 269-651-2331.  Funeral services celebrating the life of Orson F. Poley, Jr. will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Sturgis. The Revs. Calvin Kolzow and Larry Matro will officiate. A graveside committal will follow the service at Oak Lawn Cemetery in Sturgis where full military honors will be conferred by Captain John J. Kelley Post #1355 VFW and the U.S. Army Honor Guard.
The family suggests those wishing to make a memorial donation in Mr. Poley’s memory consider the Trinity Lutheran School, 406 S. Lakeview Ave., Sturgis, MI 49091 or the Cure Alzheimer’s Fund, 34 Washington St., Suite 310, Wellesley Hills, MA 02481 (curealz.org).

The obituary is also at hackmanfamilyfuneralhomes.com where personal messages of support may be left for the family.