Charles Deland

On a farm in Livingston County, the fifth child, Charles was born on July 22, 1926, to Orlo and Ethel Deland while they were on a trip around the state. Chuck was greeted by his siblings, Margaret, Ruth, Frances and Robert. Sometime later, Chuck and his family were blessed with two more brothers, Bruce and Kenneth. The family lived in Haslett and moved to Lansing when Chuck was six. They moved several times in Lansing and at his last home, Chuck learned to play the guitar and found out he had a great voice for singing. He was so excited for the opportunity to sing on W.J.I.M, the local radio station. He also sang every Saturday at the Michigan Theatre in downtown Lansing, with the Uncle Howdie’s Choir, and sang regular solo performances.

Chuck enlisted in the Navy in July 1942 at the age 16 ½ with his father’s consent. The military sent him overseas in January 1943 on a troop ship and made many landings with Marines and help put troops ashore beaches. He was then transferred to the “USS Stevens” where he remained the rest of World War II and was discharged in March 1946. Chuck was very proud of sailing the South West Pacific from Australia to China, the United States to Borneo and Celon. Chuck received the American Area Campaign Ribbon, Asiatic Pacific Area Campaign ribbon with two bronze stars and the Philippine Liberation Ribbon with no stars.

He returned to high school and met Louanna Seavolt. The two of them were in class together and Louanna thought Chuck was outgoing, very nice looking, and loved his curly hair. She really like Chuck, however she didn’t think he even noticed her. It was rare for the times; however one day while helping him with his school work, Louanna asked Chuck out on their first date, they went Roller Skating. On this first date, Chuck asked Louanna to marry him. She responded, “Do you know you are asking me to set across the breakfast table from you the rest of my life?” She said no, however a few weeks later she must have said yes and 8 months later they were married on May 31, 1947. Throughout their courtship, Chuck was very romantic and liked to sing “You are my sunshine” and “Let Me Call you Sweetheart” to Louanna. Chuck would sing these songs at various times over their 63 years of marriage. Chuck graduated from Sunfield High School in 1948.

He wasn’t able to find any work available, so that fall, 1948 he enlisted in the US Army. Chuck taught small arms in Aberdeen, Maryland and later transferred to El Paso, Texas where he was a personnel company clerk during the Korean Conflict. Chuck and Louanna’s first born was Charlene “Chuckie”, on September 5, 1950 in Texas. He was discharged later in 1950 and they return to Michigan. Chuck and Louanna’s second daughter, Theda was born on March 24, 1953.

On January 12, 1951, Chuck went to work at Oldsmobile as a sweeper chip hauler, and then worked on the rocker arms shaft for the Rocket engine, and many other positions, retiring as a foreman in Plant Engineering. While working for Oldsmobile he completed 8 courses at General Motors Institute in Flint. The family endured a great loss, the death of Theda, on March 3, 1963.

Chuck loved vacations, as a family they traveled in the truck and camper and saw a good part of the United States and into the Canadian Rockies. They also traveled to Hawaii with Chuck’s sister, Margaret and her husband, John.

The Military was a very important part of Chuck’s life. He and Louanna attended 17 Navy Ship reunions, they were held in the East, South and West in the United States. Chuck really enjoyed the reunion in Baton Rouge, where they visited the destroyer “USS Kidd” which was like his ship the “USS Steven.” Chuck was so proud he wanted Louanna to see every inch of the ship, up and down and in and out they went. He showed her where his bunk was, the galley where he cooked for the Chiefs, the gun that he used. Chuck was so proud, and happy his wife went along, as all the veterans were. Over a four day period they visited the ship 3 times. Chuck loved to reminisce with all the veterans at the reunions. Many times at the banquet, Chuck held the invocation and benediction, some of the men like to call him the “Preacher man.” Louanna thinks he enjoyed his ship reunions the most, the unforgettable vacations.

Chucks most important days of his life were when he married, Louanna, the birth of his two girls, Chuckie and Theda, when he accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior in October 1981, where he has served him faithfully ever since and his retirement from General Motors in 1982 after 31 ½ years.

Chuck liked to write Poetry and short stories. He published two books, “To God Be The Glory” a book of poems and “My Life Before and After Christ.” Louanna finds scraps of paper and sheets of papers folded all over her home with poems and stories he had written.

Chuck was a people person; he especially liked young people and babies. Chuck and Louanna sat with nephews in their house for over 11 years. When they were young he loved to rock and loved them and as they got older he like to play with them. When needed, Chuck helped in the nursery at church. Louanna says, “There you would find him rocking and loving some little one that was fussy. He had a way with kids of all ages”. Chuck always had a smile on his face, good natured and slow to anger. Chuck had a phrase, “Learn from the mistakes of others, because you will never live long enough to make them all yourself.”

Sadly, Chuck became ill in November 2009 and never regained his vibrance for life. Charles Deland of Sunfield, died on Saturday, May 29, 2010 in Sunfield at the age of 83. Chuck leaves behind his loving, dedicated and loyal wife, Louanna, loving daughter, Chuckie (Bill) McKenna, and brother, Bruce (Pauline) Deland, brothers and sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, Orlo and Ethel Deland, daughter, Theda, siblings, Margaret, Ruth, Frances, Robert and Kenneth.

A Funeral Service will be held 11:00 a.m. Friday, June 4, 2010 at the Charlotte Assembly of God, 1100 East Clinton Trail, Charlotte, Michigan where a gathering for family and friends will start at 10 am. A time to gather with family will be held 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm, Thursday, June 3, 2010 at Rosier Funeral Home, Mapes-Fisher Chapel, Sunfield, Michigan.

The family has requested memorial contributions in Chuck’s memory to the Charlotte Assembly of God, Youth Ministry. Please visit Chuck’s web page at www.lifestorynet.com to sign the on-line guest book and share a memory or message with his family.