Garfield JW DeMarsh, 71

Born: Nov. 28, 1941

Died: Oct. 24, 2012

 

Garfield DeMarsh, 71, of Dowagiac, passed away at 3:43 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2012, at his home.

Garfield’s life began on Nov. 28, 1941, in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, the son of Engelhard and Cecile (Moreau) DeMarsh.

He was a 1960 graduate of Redford High School and a graduate of Lawrence Technical College.

Garfield served his country in the U.S. Air Force from 1963-1967.

He was united in marriage to the former Majel Winchester on Oct. 11, 1968, in Dearborn.

Garfield worked as a computer programmer for the former Farmer Jacks/A&P grocery chain in the Detroit area.

He was an avid and enthusiastic fan of the Detroit Red Wings and Detroit Tigers. He loved being outdoors and working on his manicured landscaping in the yard. He enjoyed volunteering in the carpentry shop at The Museum at Southwestern Michigan College, playing cribbage and euchre at the Council on Aging and joining his coffee group at Deb’s Café.

His greatest joy was his family, which includes: his wife, Majel of Dowagiac; children, Dawn (Clifford) Cornelius of Green Bay, Wis., and Nicolle DeMarsh of Dowagiac; grandchildren, Tehatsi and Tehaluntasele Cornelius, Corey and Matthew Cornelius, Lenita James and Anna Cornelius; great-grandchildren, Caliana, Daniel, Davian and Princeton; sister, Edwidge Wilkie of Dearborn; and several nieces and nephews.

Garfield is preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Alexina Luckey.

His family will gather with friends on Friday from 5 to 8 p.m. at Yazel and Clark Chapel, where pipe ceremonies begin at 6:30. Funeral ceremonies will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home led by Clarence Sarrett.  Memorial contributions in his name may be directed to the Michigan Chapter of ALS.org.  Please sign his guestbook and leave a memory of Garfield at www.yazel-clark.com