Samuel Robert Wiley

Samuel Robert Wiley, 83, of Gladwin, Michigan, passed away at his home on Saturday, January 10, 2016. He was born on April 29, 1933, the son of Arthur Lorrain and Eleanor Signe (Merila) Wiley in Detroit. Sam attended Detroit's Cass Tech until the outbreak of the Korean War, when he enlisted in the the US Army. Volunteering for the airborne, Sam completed jump school at Fort Benning and served with the 187th PIR, 11th Airborne Div, reaching the rank of Corporal, and was honorably discharged from active duty in 1953. On September 17, 1955, he was united in marriage to Betty Louise Ferdig in Mt. Clemens. Sam and Betty lived in Fraser and Harrison Township. In 1991, they moved to their vacation home in Gladwin.The two had celebrated 47 years together just before her death in 2002. Sam launched his career as a clay modeler at Chrysler in 1954, and was hired in 1960 by the design firm William M. Schmidt Associates, leading their clay modeling division. In 1975, Sam established Industrial Design Models in Clinton Township, which he owned and operated until his retirement. Sam was a member of the Masonic Lodge in Fraser and the Eagles Aerie 3292 in Gladwin. A race car fan, Sam regularly made the pilgrimage to Indianapolis Speedway for the annual running of the Indy 500. He also was an avid sailor: a founder and commander of the Belvedere Boat Club; commander of the Anchor Bay Yachting Association in 1975. A lifelong bowler, Sam's team won the Gladwin/Beaverton Bowling Association's Open City Tournament as recently as 2013. Left to cherish his memory are his children: Deborah (Joseph) Miller of Shelby Township; Lorraine (Harvard) Stadwick of Harrison Township; Robin (Michael) Stone of Marine City; 6 grandchildren: Joseph Jr., Robert, Melissa, Michael, Macrae, and Kathryn; great grandchild: Wiley; brothers: Jerry Jackson of Warren; Clayton Majava of Las Vegas; sister in-law: Dianne DiVito of Clinton Township; several nieces & nephews. Funeral Services will be conducted on Friday, January 20, 2017, 11:00 A.M. at Hall-Kokotovich Funeral Home, Gladwin. Visitation will be held on Thursday, January 19, 2017, from 2-8:00 P.M. at the Hall-Kokotovich Funeral Home, Gladwin. He will be laid to rest at Ridge Cemetery, Gladwin. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made according to the American Disabled Veterans. www.hall-kokotovichfuneralhome.com