Floyd Sanders, of Dowagiac

Published 8:45 am Monday, February 13, 2017

Nov. 26, 1940 — Feb. 9, 2017

Floyd Norman Sanders, 76, of Dowagiac, passed away Thursday, Feb. 9, 2017, at Lakeland Regional Medical Center in St. Joseph surrounded by his family.

A celebration of life service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 18, 2017, at Sister Lakes Community Church in Dowagiac with military honors conducted by the North Berrien Military Rights Team. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 17, 2017, at Starks and Menchinger Chapel and Cremation Services in St. Joseph.

Memorial contributions may be made to Sister Lakes Community Church. Online condolences may be made at starks-menchinger.com.

Floyd was born Nov. 26, 1940, to the late Edward and Florence (Clark) Sanders in International Falls, Minnesota.

He graduated from Berrien Springs High School in the class of 1959.

On Nov. 6, 1966, he married Sandra “Sandi” Heeter in Hartford.

Floyd was a U.S. Army veteran. He was active in the 246 Armor Regiment of the Michigan Army National Guard. Floyd was also involved in several other groups, including the NRA, Coloma American Legion Post 362 and the Dowagiac Conservation Club.

He retired from Whirlpool Corporation in 2004 after 38 years of service. Floyd was an avid sportsman and gun enthusiast, and was passionate about the second amendment. His greatest joy was teaching his grandchildren his shenanigans. He will be remembered for his quick wit and love of playing the guitar.

Floyd is survived by his wife of 50 years, Sandi; children Tiffany (Ben) Sanders-Graves, Richard (Linda) Sanders (Lt. Col, USAF) and Leslie (Mark) Sanders-Wild; grandchildren Cody Graves-Sposato, Marissa and Maya Sanders, and Andrew and Raegan Wild; sisters Shirley Spencer and Pearl (Tom) Weir; brother Douglas “Joe” (Linda) Nyborg; brother-in-law Bob Joyce; sister-in-law Debbie (Burt) Tetzlaff; brother-in-law Tom Kirkpatrick; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his sister, Karen Joyce; father-in-law Eugene “Butch” Heeter; mother-in-law Lucille Heeter; brother-in-law Lee Spencer; sister-in-law Patricia Kirkpatrick; and grandson Benjamin Graves II.