J. William Hedelund

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Wilson Miller Funeral Home, Inc. - Midland

4210 N. Saginaw Rd

Midland, Michigan

J. Hedelund Obituary

J. William Hedelund, age 93, of Midland, died Thursday, Aug. 28, 2008, at Bay Bluffs Medical Care Facility in Harbor Springs, Mich.

    The son of the late Soren and Katherine (Barnhart) Hedelund was born on Aug. 1, 1915, near Moorhead, Minn. Bill graduated from Concordia University with a Bachelor of Science degree and moved to Midland in 1941 to begin his career. On November 14, 1942, he married Frances Bliss in Midland. They had two sons and one daughter and each of their children had three children, two girls and one boy.

    Bill worked his entire career for the Dow Chemical Co. He spent a few years in the Dow Patent Department before establishing and heading the Trademark and Copyright Section of the Dow Legal Department. In 1975, during his tenure at Dow, Bill was elected Chairman of the Board and President of the United States Trademark Association. He also served for several years as a member of the Trademark Advisory Committee to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Bill was a Rotarian and did a stint as President of the Rotary Club of Midland. He was a member of St. John's Episcopal Church where he served a vestryman, lay reader, acolyte leader, Sunday school teacher and choir member. He also served as Chairman of the Diocese of Michigan Committee for Men's work in Evangelism. He was a member of the Midland Country Club. The Hedelunds enjoyed spending time in Scottsdale, Ariz., where Bill became a crossword puzzle addict. Although Bill was legally blind, he could still manage to win at card games and pool.

    Mr. Hedelund is survived by his wife of nearly 66 years, Frances; sons, James (Louise) Hedelund of Freeland, John "Jack" (Leslie) Hedelund of Fairhaven, Mich.; daughter, Judith (Jerry) Adams of Harbor Springs; 9 grandchildren, and 6 great-grandchildren.

    Funeral services will be held at 2 pm on Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2008, from St. John's Episcopal Church. Reverend Rob Skirving will be celebrant, assisted by Reverend Michael H. Wilson, Minister of Pastoral Care. Interment will follow in Midland City Cemetery. Visitation will be at the church on Tuesday from noon until the time of service. Memorial may be in Bill's memory may be offered to St. John's Episcopal Church Food Pantry.

    Funeral arrangements are under the care of the Wilson MILLER Funeral Home where personal messages of support may be left for the family at www.wilson-miller.com

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Midland Daily News from Aug. 30 to Sep. 1, 2008.

Memories and Condolences
for J. Hedelund

12 Entries

John Hedelund

September 26, 2008

I remember Uncle Bill as a kind and dedicated man. He had a long and meaningful life. I was sorry to learn of his passing

Kay Vescio

September 8, 2008

Bill hired me to work as a junior secretary in the Trademark Department in 1972. That was the best thing he ever did for me. I worked in the department for just under 30 years. What a wonderful group of people to work with -- especially Bill. We will miss you and your laughter always.

Aaron T Bliss

September 5, 2008

Dear Aunt Fran, Jim, Jack & Judy,

I was very saddened to hear of Uncle Bill's death. He was the happiest, most upbeat person that I ever knew -- IN ALL SITUATIONS!
I first got to know him when I spent nights sleeping over at your house in Midland in the 1950s. I last saw him at church in Scottsdale in the early 1990s. Happy, smiling, interested in others, and never talking about himself -- He truly walked with God.
I am assured by his actions and faith in his Savior that he is happy in the hands of our Lord, whose mercy surpasses our understanding. And as he is no longer constrained by time, he is joyfully greeting all of his ancestors, relatives, children and friends who share his faith in Jesus.
My wife Jeanne was also fortunate to know him, and shares my sentiments.
We send our condolences to you, but know that his passing is a call home from God rather than a departure to some strange place.
Love, Ty & Jeanne Bliss

Don Carlsen

September 5, 2008

Frances and family: We are saddened by Bill's passing. We are out of town and just heard the news.
You and your familly are in our thoughts and prayer and may you have strength in the days and months ahead.
Bill was special and always willing to help others. I followed Bill as Rotary President and we enjoyed working together. Frances, you are also very special and I enjoyed working with you.
Best regards, Don & Jan Carlsen

Josiah Puder

September 2, 2008

Although we lived quite a distance from Uncle Bill and Aunt Fran and weren't able to visit them that often, I do remember our visits and enjoying Uncle Bill's easy smile and friendly nature. Uncle Bill - you will be sorely missed and forever remembered as a kind, decent, and loving man.

Cheryl & Jay (Fowley) Dauer

September 1, 2008

Jim and Louise and Hedelund families - We are so sorry to learn of the passing of your Father, Jim. How wonderful that he lived into his 90s so that you could have so many great years to enjoy him and vice versa.

I wish we could be there for visitation but we are at our cottage at Bear Lake and are unable to get back. In fact, we're here for a funeral.

I do want you to know we are thinking of you and praying for strength and peace at this time. You're special people and were wonderful neighbors and friends on Sugnet. It was so nice to see and talk to you both after so many years of our paths rarely crossing. Our condolences to your mom. I know that my folks knew her and your dad and enjoyed their company.

Luann Tucker

August 31, 2008

To Aunt Fran and all the family - was sorry to learn of the passing of Uncle Bill and am sending my love and big hugs to all of you. My heart and prayers will be thinking of you on Tuesday. In life Bill always had "open arms" to all of us- as I am sure he is receiving the same as he moves on to his new life.
Luann and Jim Tucker

David Ganus

August 31, 2008

It was my distinct privilege and pleasure to have worked with Bill for almost 20 years at The Dow Chemical Company. He hired me fresh out of U of Michigan Law School in 1961, dragging along a struggling wife and two babies, and was my teacher, mentor and friend for all those years.
Bill and Frances were like a second set of parents to my family--always encouraging, upbeat, and just plain fun to be around. I loved to practice my German with Bill every day at work. He spoke three languages--Norwegian, German and English, a fact that few people knew.
The pinnacle of my career was when I was appointed in 1980 to succeed Bill as Manager of the Trademark and Copyright Section at Dow.

Auf Wiedersehen and Godspeed my most beloved friend. You will be missed and never forgotten by this colleague

michael dickson

August 31, 2008

i had the pleasure of knowing uncle bill for approximently ten years. what a joy it was for me to converse with a gentleman of his stature. his incredible knowledge base was never ending. my visits with him will be forever cherished. it will always be my loss not to have known uncle bill longer.

Sandy Dickson

August 30, 2008

My Uncle Bill was a wonderful person. He was an inspiration to me in so many ways. His enthusiasm and upbeat personality was refreshing. I have extremely fond memories from childhood of the times I stayed with the Hedelund family during the summer months. Later in life when I would phone, my Uncle Bill was always cheerful and happy to hear from me even when I knew that life was getting tougher for him. He never complained inspite of adversity. My thoughts and prayers are with Aunt Fran, and Judy and Jerry, Jim and Louise, Jack and Leslie, and their children. What a blessing Uncle Bill was to all who knew and loved him.

Jeremiah Puder

August 30, 2008

Unfortunately, I hadn't seen Uncle Bill for almost 25 years. What I do remember about him from the times I visited him and Aunt Fran as a child, was that he was a cheerful, extremely kind, and friendly person whom my mother, Sandra, always spoke so highly and warmly of. She always said she considered Uncle Bill a second father following the passing of her own father, and despite my limited first-hand knowledge and memories of him, I can fully appreciate her sentiments. At this sad time, my thoughts, prayers, and condolences are with Aunt Fran, Jim, Jack, Judy and their families. Goodbye, Godspeed, and God Bless, Uncle Bill.

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