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Herman May Obituary

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Herman May

Portland, MI

October 28, 1917 - December 26, 2017

Herman May Obituary

Herman W. (Bill) May passed away at Thornapple Manor on December 26, 2017 at the age of 100 years. Bill was born on October 28, 1917 to Herman and Martha May in Detroit, Michigan. After graduating from Highland Park High School, Bill began working as a salesman for Beecher, Peck and Lewis, selling mainly printing paper. Bill volunteered for the military service on December 8, 1941. He served in the Army Air Corps, 10th Air Force stationed at several bases in India, completing 41 missions in a B-24 as an Armored Gunner over Burma, China, Thailand, and Adaman Island. He was awarded two Battle Stars, the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Metal, and the Unit’s President Citation for heavy bombardment missions. Bill returned to the states to complete his service and was discharged after serving 3 years, 10 months. After military service, Bill returned to work at Beecher’s, later Mead Paper Company until his retirement. Bill met Katherine (Kay) Serbin in Detroit, Michigan. They were married on June 8, 1946 and were together until Kay’s death on February 27, 2017. The May family started out in Highland Park, Michigan and later moved to Warren, Michigan. After retirement and with the family grown, Bill and Kay moved to the Michigan’s Upper Penninsula. The lived in their “cottage” on Green Bay (Lake Michigan), later moving to Escanaba. Bill enjoyed picking wild cranberries and making cranberry juice. He spent many mornings’ perch fishing and smelting. Hunting for upland birds and ducks was his favorite outdoor activity. Bill also possessed natural artistic abilities, including playing the piano, painting a wall sized mural, and wood working. Health problems hit both Bill and Kay and they moved into Pine Crest, an assisted living in Powers, Michigan. Later they moved to Thornapple Manor near Hastings, Michigan to be looked after and cared for by their eldest daughter, Kathy. Bill is survived by his three children, Kathy (Gordy) Duffey, William (Virginia) May, and Marcia (Denny) Sekino; two grandchildren, Jeffrey Duffey and Jennifer (Jeff) Reynolds. Bill is preceded in death by Kay, his loving wife of 70 years; two brothers, James and Alan; and two sisters, Alice and Genevieve. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Fr. Larry King at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, December 30, 2017 at the Lehman Funeral Home, 210 E. Bridge Street, Portland, Michigan. Rite of Committal will follow at Danby Cemetery. The family will receive visitors one hour prior to the funeral service on Saturday at the funeral chapel. Arrangements are entrusted to Lehman Funeral Homes. Online condolences may be made at www.lehmanfuneralhomes.com.

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