Willard Luepnitz

Willard Luepnitz

Willard A. Luepnitz of Moran was an experienced tool and die maker, whose work remains throughout Brevort Township in fences, logging equipment, trailers, snowmobiles, snow blowers, lawnmowers, and other machinery. He built handrails at Castle Rock, the popular St. Ignace tourist site. A master machinist, Mr. Luepnitz learned the trade from his father, Paul, and he worked at machine shops in Pontiac and Detroit in the 1940s and 1950s. He then moved to Wisconsin, where he worked for Broan Manufacturing Company and other companies before returning here. He was a veteran of World War II, serving from 1943 to 1946, and he was a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He served in the United States Army, where he also worked in machine shops. He was also a former volunteer fire chief for the Moran area, appointed to the position until Brevort Township formed its first fire department.

Mr. Luepnitz died at the age of 89 Sunday, November 18, 2007, at Mackinac Straits Hospital Long Term Care in St. Ignace.

He was born in Brevort Township on Dukes Road October 10, 1918. His parents were Paul and Mable (nee Davis) Luepnitz.

From 1934 to 1937 in the midst of the Great Depression, he worked for the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) as a blacksmith. He built tree planting bars for the CCC and fireplace equipment, and he also repaired machinery for the CCC. He also helped build the Brevort Lake Dam.

During the 1930s he also worked on the construction of US- 2, helping to set 10-foot metal forms for the foundation of the highway between Naubinway and St. Ignace. Years later, he traveled the same highway he helped build between 2003 and 2005, when he and Ron Bloch transported tons of paper to Manistique for recycling.

Following his work around Detroit and in Wisconsin, Mr. Luepnitz returned to the place of his birth, the farm on Dukes Road, where he continued machine repair at the shop his father built in 1930. The shop contains many historic machines, including a 100-yearold lathe.

Mr. Luepnitz was a member of the Assembly of God Church in St. Ignace, Moose Lodge 999 of St. Ignace, and Masonic Lodge 369 of St. Ignace.

Mr. Luepnitz is survived by his family, Russell and Susan Luepnitz of West Bend, Wisconsin, Jeff Olney of Rome, Georgia, Judy Krell and Marcel Polzin of Hartford, Wisconsin, Betty Cory of Houston, Texas; two sisters, Marge Johnson and Violet Walker of Cape Girardeau, Missouri; an aunt, Charlotte Gamble of St. Ignace; a special cousin, Leah Milford of St. Ignace; eight grandchildren, and 18 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by three brothers, Paul, George, and Robert; a sister, Lillian; by his close friend, Ron Bloch, and by three wives, Lillian, Ann, and Ophelia.

A memorial service will be Wednesday, November 21, at 11 a.m. at the United Methodist Church in St. Ignace. Pastor Dan Williams will officiate. Burial will be in Brevort Township Cemetery. A lunch will be served at the Moose Lodge 999 in St. Ignace after the service.

Memorial donations can be directed to the family, and envelopes are available at Dodson Funeral Home of St. Ignace, which assisted the family with arrangements.