William John Stapleton Jr.

William John Stapleton, Jr. (Bill)
East Lansing

Bill Stapleton, a proud Irishman, died peacefully on April 6, 2015, surrounded by his wife and four children. He was born in Illiopolis, Illinois, on January 18, 1931. Bill lived in several different towns in Illinois and Michigan as a child, and his family eventually settled in Sturgis, Michigan. He graduated from Sturgis High School in 1948, from the University of Notre Dame in 1952, and received his law degree from the University of Michigan in 1955. He practiced law in Lansing for 40 years, first with Ward Kelly, then Leighton, Andrews & Stapleton, and finally Andrews & Stapleton. He was a member of the Ingham County Bar Association, Michigan Bar Association, Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity, St. Thomas Aquinas church, Monday Bridge Group, and the East Lansing Classics Book Club, which meets at the E.L. Library on Tuesdays. He served in the U.S. Army for two years, and was stationed in Alaska before it was a state.

Bill had a deep love for his family, and was very proud of all of them. He was a gentle man with simple tastes, and without pretense. He was kind, sweet, and well-known for his wit and dry sense of humor. He cherished fine literature, classical music, and playing bridge. He loved the written word, and reading was a passion – newspapers, magazines and books – and he usually had more than one book and magazine going at all times. He was a talented, unpublished writer.

Although never one for small talk, Bill was always ready to engage if someone wanted to discuss ideas. He was not an ideologue, but loved a rousing discussion on the state of the world, the state of American politics and, of course, the state of Notre Dame football. Sports were an essential part of everyday life for him, and he loved to debate the state of the Lions, Pistons, Tigers, Spartans, Wolverines, and the Irish with friends, children, and grandchildren. Many would wait for his call after a big sporting event to pore over the nuances of the game (and the officiating if his team suffered a loss). His love for Notre Dame sports may have seemed excessive to some, but not to him. And he passed along this love to children and grandchildren. His eight grandchildren carved out a special place in his heart.

Surviving Bill are his loving wife of more than 60 years,
Joan; his four children, Mary Kathleen Larsen (Jim);
Christine Elizabeth Romano; William J. Stapleton III (Robbie);
and Ann Maureen Jacob (Paul); eight grandchildren,
Jacob Monestersky; Lena Romano; Joe,
Drew and Tressa Stapleton; and Caitlin, Molly and Kevin Jacob.
He also is survived by his sister Rosemary Findlay (Jim);
brother, Dr. Thomas R. Stapleton; sister-in-law Joy Lawler;
and sister- and brother-in-law Joyce and Dennis Wood.

A Mass of Christian burial will be held
on Friday, April 10, at 1:00 p.m. at
St. Thomas Aquinas Church in East Lansing,
with Rev. Mark Inglot presiding.
Visitation will be held at St. Thomas on Thursday,
April 9 from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m.,
with rosary beginning at 7:30.
Another opportunity for visitation
will be at 12:00 p.m. prior to the Mass.

For those desiring, donations may be made
in Bill's memory to St. Thomas Aquinas Church,
955 Alton Rd., East Lansing, MI 48823 or the
East Lansing Public Library, 950 Abbott, East
Lansing, MI 48823.

A special note of gratitude is given for the outstanding
and kind care Bill received on the 4th floor
and the ICU at McLaren Hospital.

The family is being served by Gorsline Runciman
East Lansing. On line condolences may be
shared with the family at www.greastlansing.com.