GEORGE E. LERCHEN

LERCHEN GEORGE E., Age 91 March 26, 2014. Beloved husband of Ann (nee Avigne) for 69 years. Loving father of Jane Ann. He was predeceased by his parents Clara and George Lerchen and a brother Robert (Jeanne) Lerchen of Brighton, MI. George is also survived by a brother, Bertram W. (Sue) Lerchen of Central Lake, MI and nephews Thomas G. (Christine) Lerchen of Saline, MI , Mark (Debbie) Lerchen of Annville, PA and a niece, Karen Lerchen of Annville, PA. George was born not too far from what was the Navin Field and was a 1941 graduate of Detroit Western High School. George played professional baseball for fifteen years with three years out for service in the US Navy during World War II. Though most of George's baseball years were spent in Triple A and Double A leagues, he did have the proverbial "cup of coffee" with the Detroit "Tigers" in 1952 and the Cincinnati "Reds" in 1953. His first hit in the "bigs" was a home run against the Washington "Senators". After baseball, he played recreational softball with the J.R. Snyder Masonry team, and in 1998 George was inducted into the Metro-Detroit ASA Softball Hall of Fame. George retired from the construction industry with the Kirco Realty Company. Memorials appreciated by the family to The Michigan Humane Society, 900 N. Newburgh Rd., Westland, MI 48185. www.santeiufuneralhome.com