Louis Lessard

Louis A. Lessard, 93, of Bellaire, died Sunday, August 5, 2007, peacefully in his home on S.E. Torch Lake Dr. Louis was born August 4, 1914, to Joseph and Delvina (Duba) Lessard. October 22, 1937 Louis married Velma Seaman who preceded him in death in 1986. Also preceding him in death were a son, Daryl Lessard in 2003, and five brothers, Clyde, Claude, Roland, Cecil and David Lessard and two sisters, Maybelle Thomas and Marcia Lessard. On July 11, 1987 he married Virginal Berg, who preceded him in death in 1997. Surviving are a daughter Marlene (Terry) Caszatt of Alden, two sons Joseph (Kathleen) Lessard of Mason and Karyl Lessard of Rockford; two step sons, Doyle (Dawn) Berg of Lake Ann, David (Kay) Berg of Prescott, AZ, and step daughter Nancy (Ed) Stoneburner of Bellaire, fifteen grandchildren, thirteen great grandchildren and two foster children. Louis was a man of varied interests, but his passion for the land, his concern for public service and his abiding interest in Christianity were paramount. Born on the family farm in Antrim County, he continued farming and raising his own family there, running a general, cash crop operation along with a concentration in the hybrid seed corn business. In the latter he was an innovative leader, growing and producing seed corn for a large section of northern Michigan. Along with the corn business, Louis also continued a small dairy operation, and later began a concentration on raspberries, a special passion that he carried on into his last years. Louis' second area of special interest lay within the broad arena of public and community services. Always concerned with social and political issues - he was an unabashed, unapologetic Democrat - Louis loved to "debate the issue." But beyond the talk, he was always willing to subordinate his personal politics and to grasp the reins in terms of local government: a practical man in the final analysis, he simply wanted to get the job done and do it well. This attitude propelled him into local governmental agencies such as the Forest Home Township Planning Commission, where he labored passionately for 26 years to bring some sense and stability to the local zoning laws. Along with his concern for the welfare of the land and the environment, Louis was also a strong, unwavering Christian. This was the rock on which he stood, the underpinning that grounded him and influenced all his important life decisions. A natural outgrowth of this passion was his ongoing work with the Bellaire Methodist Church, where he fulfilled several roles from usher to trustee. More importantly to Louis was his continual search, both in books and in practical living, for evidence of the Word, the Grace, the Wisdom of Christ. Not content with talking about the subject, Louis was an advocate of action, of going out into the world and doing His work. Perhaps the most outstanding quality of Louis' personality was his light and energy-a kind of passionate concern for life, for the broad issues that face us all. "Let us come together," he seemed to say, "and let us discuss these things." He could be a stubborn advocate, but always he was concerned - a passenger on this whirling globe who truly wanted our lives to be richer, happier, and more informed. He exuded this special light and drew a host of friends and admirers to it. His passing leaves us not only bereft, in the old sense of the word, but astonished and grateful that a man like this has been our comrade, friend, parent and loving presence for these many, happy years. The family will receive friends Wednesday from 2 - 4 p.m. and 6 -8 p.m. at the Bellaire Chapel of Mortensen Funeral Homes. A memorial celebration will be held Thursday, at Eleven a.m. in the Bellaire Community United Methodist Church. Rev. Mary Brown will officiate. Interment will take place in Lakeview Cemetery, Bellaire. In lieu of flowers the family has requested contributions be made to the Bellaire Methodist Church building fund and the Bellaire Methodist Church procurement fund or the Antrim County Commission on Aging. Please sign our online guestbook at www.mortensenfuneralhomes.com.