Walter Wayne Appel

1935 - 2017

Walter Wayne Appel

East Lansing

Our much loved husband and father, Walter W. Appel, died on Thursday, August 10, 2017. He was our intellectual leader and our moral compass. He will be remembered for his love of learning and generosity of spirit. His loss leaves a hole in our hearts, but we know that Walter died with a strong faith in the love of the Lord and God's love for him.

Born in Romeo, Michigan on December 8, 1935, Walter was the eighth and last child of Edmund George and Alvena Wilhelmina Appel. His parents and siblings predeceased him, and he missed them greatly in the last years of his life when he was the sole survivor of his immediate family. After graduating from Romeo High School and Capital University in Columbus, OH, Walter married his high school sweetheart, Diane Trieloff. Walt is survived by Diane, having celebrated their 57th anniversary this past June.

Walt and Diane moved to the Lansing area in 1963 and immediately became members of University Lutheran Church and have been active members of the congregation ever since. Walt brought his family back to Michigan from Ohio for work with the State of Michigan. For most of his time as a civil servant he was a Higher Education Consultant in the Department of Education, finishing up in the Department of Treasury when he retired in 1998. In their retirement before his health began to fail, Walt and Diane enjoyed travel to see family and friends including a 40th wedding anniversary in Disney World with the kids and grandkids, and one of many trips to Europe that included a week in Apt, a small town in France.

In addition to his time as an undergrad, Walt spent a year at what is now Trinity Lutheran Seminary and completed a Master's degree at Wayne State University. He could read Latin, Greek and Hebrew, and often explained to the rest of us the origin of the words around us. He was a lifelong learner and was a member of the Cogito book club for many years. His last book selection for the group this past spring was Silas Marner. He was also a lifelong volunteer, helping students acclimate at Michigan State University in the 1960s, part of the University Lutheran effort to resettle two families of refugees from Viet Nam, helping children learn to read in Lansing elementary schools, and a docent at the Michigan History Museum. Walt was a fan of the Detroit Tigers, Red Wing and Spartan hockey, and he tolerated the Detroit Lions. Someone has to do it.

Walt is also survived by his daughters Laura Appel (Gary Garbarino) and Caren Gawlak (Scott), his granddaughters, Kira and Dana Gawlak, brother-in-law William Trieloff (Kellie), and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Family and friends are invited to gather for a memorial service for Walter on Saturday, October 14 at 11am at University Lutheran Church. It is not a game day. The family will receive visitors beginning at 9:30 am. Lunch will follow the service at the church, and it will be good and plentiful as Walter would have wanted. For those wishing to attend, the interment of ashes will take place at the end of the day at Romeo Cemetery in Romeo.

Walter asked that memorials be directed to the Trinity Seminary E.G. Appel Fund, the University Lutheran Church Library, or individual preference. Walter leaves all of us inspired to maintain our commitments, to be grateful for the many gifts we have been given and most of all, to cherish our extended families and gather with each other as often as possible. Online condolences and memories may be shared at www.greastlansing.com