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Lansford ‘Len’ O. Lilly

Lansford Lilly

GWINN, MI – Lansford “Len” or “Lanny” Lilly, age 79, passed away peacefully on Saturday, September 22, 2018 at the D.J. Jacobetti Home for Veterans with family by his side.

Born May 1, 1939 in Balls Gap, West Virginia to Richard and Violet (Peters) Lilly, he was the eldest of five children. He graduated from Gwinn High School in 1957 and enlisted in the United States Marine Corps shortly after.

Lansford entered as a helicopter mechanic, but also became a gunner, obtaining the rank of Staff Sergeant through his three tours (1962, 1965 and 1969) in Vietnam by the time of his military retirement in 1973.

Thereafter he worked at Cleveland Cliffs until permanently retiring in 2000 as a warehouse supervisor. During his tenure at Cleveland Cliffs he obtained various degrees (history, political science and economics) at Northern Michigan University.

In retirement, he continued to enjoy life as a good ole boy; canning the harvests from his expansive garden, bottling his own beer and wine, hunting at his family camp in Arnold, loving his cats and dogs, and above all, adoring the company of friends and family.

He volunteered with the American Legion Post 394 and VFW Auxiliary 5670. He authored a Civil War era novel, A Dandelion for DeReau, centered around his hometown of Balls Gap. He returned there for his last vacation to visit the holler he was born in, during the summer of 2017 with three generations of family by his side.

Lansford is survived by two brothers, Marlin and Dalton; one sister, Laura (Steve) Novotny; two daughters, Beth Ann and Kirsten Lilly; two sons, Charles “Chuck” (Susan) Lilly and Byron Lilly; grandchildren, Charles “Chaz”, Garrett (Amber) Lilly, Hayley Bolduc, Carter and Carson; great-grand- daughter, Della; and dear friend, Judy Keast.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Richard and Violet (Peters) Lilly; brother, David; wife, Yvonne (Heric) Lilly; and sons, Lansford Lilly II and III.

A Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, September 29, 2018 at 12 Noon at the Canale-Gwinn Funeral Home.

Visitation will be held from 10 am until the time of the service in the funeral home.

Interment will take place at the Forest Home Cemetery in Arnold where military honors will be provided by the Little Lake American Legion Post.

Lansford’s obituary may also be viewed at canalefuneral.com where memories may be shared.