Colonel Versel Case Jr.

Versel Case Jr., Colonel MIARNG (Retired) DeWitt Colonel Case, age 91, went to be with his Lord April 5, 2011. He was born October 2, 1919 in Crystal Township, Montcalm County, Michigan. He was the only son of Versel Clare Case and Charlotte May Sigourney. He spent his childhood in Ann Arbor and on the family farm in Crystal. He was valedictorian of Crystal High School class of 1938. He graduated from the University of Michigan in 1942 with a B.A. degree in economics. He married Florence Emily Wright on February 11, 1942. They had four children, Penelope "Penny", Versel Thomas, Michael Clare and Mitzie Mae. Florence, Penny and Mitzie preceded him in death. He married Naomi Joyce Martin on July 19, 1958. They had one child, Dirk Douglas. During WWII he served in the 104th Infantry Division in the ETO. He joined the Michigan National Guard in Flint in June 1947. He held several command and staff positions during the years and was promoted to Colonel in 1968 as commander of the 46th Engineer Group. He retired from the MIARNG on November 1, 1973. In his business life he worked for Buick Motor Corp. as a cost accountant, for the MING in engineering management, real estate broker and retired from the Dept. of Mgt. and Budget as the Manager of the Space Mgt. Section in February 1983. He was a life member and past President of the MNG Assoc, life member of the NG Assoc of the United States, member and past President of the Retired Officers' Assoc of MNG, life member of Military Officers Assoc of America (MOAA) and past President of the local chapter of MOAA previously known as TROA. He was past Commander General of the Michigan Commandery of the Military Order of Foreign Wars of the United States (MOFW). He was Commander General of the National Order of MOFW during the 1995-97 Bienium. He was a member of the Assoc. of States Executives and was a member of SERA (State Employees Retirees Assoc). He was a life member of the Mt. Gilead Masonic Lodge No. 285 at Crystal and a member and past President of John S. Bersey Chapter of the National Sojourners. He was a life member of the American Legion. He was a member of the George W. Anderson Camp No. 58, Department of MI, Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War as his Great-Great Grandfather was a soldier in the Civil War. He was a member of the Society of the Mayflower Descendants being the 10th generation from Edward Doty who was a passenger on the Mayflower. He was a member of Faith Church and was the Treasurer from June 1977-May 1993 and a member of the Endowment Board. Surviving are his wife, Naomi Joyce; sons and wives, Tom and Irene of Alexandria, VA, Mike and Loretta of Majuro, Marshall Islands, Dirk and Cindy of Port Huron; grandchildren, Jody of California, Joshua and Natalie of Indianapolis, IN and Amanda of Indianapolis, IN, Jiblie and Bert of Arkansas, Robert, Nicole, and Janel of Majuro; four great-granddaughters, Jacklynn, Helena, Loretta and Regina. Funeral services will be held Monday, April 11, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. at Faith Church, 2300 Lake Lansing Road, Lansing, MI with Reverend Brandon Bruce and Reverend Dirk Case (YFC-EM) officiating. Interment will be in Evergreen Cemetery. Visitation will take place on Sunday, April 10, 2011 from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. at the Gorsline Runciman Funeral Homes, 900 E. Michigan Ave, Lansing and 1 hour prior to the service at church on Monday. Michigan National Guard personnel will conduct the military burial service. The family suggests contributions to Faith Church, Youth for Christ-East Michigan, or the American Heart Association. On line condolences may be made at: www.gorslineruncimanlansing.com