Clarence Tornga

Clarence N. "Bud" Tornga, 76, of Ellsworth, died Saturday, February 3, 2018 at home surrounded by his loving family.

He was born August 23, 1941 in Ellsworth to E. Clarence and Rosalie (Van Zant) Tornga. (He proudly shared his birthdays with his daughter Jo.)

On July 15, 1960 he married Shirley Sitzema in Atwood. They made their home in Ellsworth.

Bud served in the U.S. Army Reserves. He worked 42.5 years at East Jordan Iron Works - from August, 1964 to January, 2007. Bud was a member of the Banks Township Fire Department from 1966-1984, serving as chief from 1975-1977. He served on the Ellsworth Community School Board, several years as president.

Bud enjoyed his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He also enjoyed golfing, yard work and raising flowers - a labor of love he also quietly did for the "Little Stone House" recently acquired by Banks Township Historical Society. Bud had received a kidney transplant in 2007 which gave him more years to do the things he loved.

Surviving are his wife Shirley; daughters Lynn (Abraham) Schlueter of East Jordan, Jo (Douglas) Postmus of Allendale; grandchildren Brittany Beckman, Megan Closs, Benjamin Postmus, Kameron Postmus; great-grandchildren Ruby Beckman, Noah Folsom and Waylon Folsom (with a third great-grandson, Lucien Beckman, expected within the month); brothers Larry (Jean) Tornga of Roscommon and Gary (Karen) Tornga of Muskegon.

Friends may call at Hastings Funeral Home in Ellsworth on Thursday, February 8, 2018 from 4 to 7 p.m. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, February 9, 2019 at the Ellsworth Wesleyan Church with the Rev. Chris Wallace officiating.

For those wishing to make memorial contributions the family suggests Hospice of Northwest Michigan, 220 W. Garfield, Charlevoix, MI 49720, or Banks Township Historical Society, 04470 Waterman Road, East Jordan, MI 49727.