Obituaries

Members of the MIRLCA may submit obituaries of fellow members to the State Secretary via email or mail.  The MIRLCA is only  able to post obituaries that have been submitted by a member or their families.  Out of respect for our fellow members that have passed and their families, the MIRLCA will only post the published obituaries.  

The obituaries will be posted for 30 days.

 July 26, 1976  -  January 28, 2026

William "Bill" Carpenter, 49, of Union City, died suddenly on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, in Burlington Township as a result of a motor vehicle accident. 

In keeping with the family’s wishes, he will be cremated, and they will host a memorial service at 11:00 A.M. on Saturday, February 7, 2026, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 284 W. State Street, Coldwater, MI 49036. The family is being served by Lighthouse Funeral & Cremation in Union City.

Bill was born on July 26, 1976 to Clifford and Carol (Vollen) Carpenter in Mt. Clements, Michigan. He graduated from Armada High School with the Class of 1995. Bill attended trade school for welding and CDL classes. He worked as a laborer at Glen Sprinkler Company in the Detroit area, ARCOSA in Union City, Tractor Supply, Real Alloy, and Rampit USA all in Coldwater, and he delivered mail for the Homer, MI post office. Bill met Mary Jean Findlay online and moved to Union City in 2014. They were married on September 26, 2016, at Clara’s on the River in Battle Creek. He became a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 2016.

Bill enjoyed hunting, fishing, bowling, U of M football, his Jeep, crocheting and Loom knitting (which he would often donate), traveling, camping, cutting wood and building fires, his pets, and his chickens. His family was his world. He was a jovial man that never met a stranger. He will be greatly missed by those who loved him.

Bill is survived by his wife, Mary Jean; his children, Erin Killey of IL, Tressa Killey of Union City, Danielle (Chris) Bryant of Coldwater, Elizabeth (Nathan) Sorenson of MO, Andrew “Shane” Boston, Jr. of Coldwater, William Vern Carpenter, Jr. of Union City, and Carol Carpenter of Union City; his seven grandchildren; his siblings, Lawrence (Laura) Carpenter, Charles (Melody) Carpenter, Mickey Lesko, Sandra Morin, all of Capac, MI, Lori Carpenter of Flint, and James (Kathy) Carpenter of Rockford.

In addition to his parents, Bill was preceded in death by his half-brother, Richard Lesko, and his sister-in-law, Annette Lesko.

Memorial donations can be made to the family, C/O Mary Findlay and mailed to Lighthouse Funeral & Cremation, P.O. Box 161, Union City, MI 49094.