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Recent Obituaries: Joan Bild, Shirley A. Stevens,

Joan Bild of Gregory, age 82, died Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2021 at her home.

Joan lived, what she termed an “arrogantly healthy life,” which enabled her to play tennis, golf, and table tennis pretty well.

Her life began on the bluffs of Lake Michigan, in South Haven, of the Bild-Soukup clans; Frank and Val (Vlasta). She had one sister (Ruth d. 2008); a brother, Donald; 2 nephews, Steve and Vince Borski; and a niece, April Borski.

Her working life was divided between 26 years at the U-M, a few agonizing years selling real estate in Lansing, and becoming a self-employed landscape designer/installer until retirement.

Joan moved from Ann Arbor to the north side of Joslin Lake (Washtenaw/Livingston county boundary) in the fall of 1978, to homestead with Life partner Jo Ann Allen. Jo died in December 2000. On Oct. 2, 2015 she married Carol Ann Bender, and she survives.

For the full obituary, please click here.


Shirley A. Stevens, age 86, passed away on Nov. 20, 2021 peacefully at the Chelsea Retirement Community, Chelsea, surrounded by her family.

She was born Dec. 11, 1934 in Dearborn, MI to Louis and Alice Cruzen. She was the youngest of three older brothers, Louis, Calvin (Sharon), and Robert (Barbara) Cruzen, whom all preceded her death.

Although she graduated from high school in Dearborn, she spent most of her high years in Cheboygan, MI. Through the years she loved keeping in touch with all her girlfriends and went to almost every reunion. She met her husband, Victor Stevens, while working at Chrysler Corporation, and they were married in 1958. They were very devoted to each other and were married for 60 years until his passing in 2018.

They were always together and enjoyed spending time with family, nieces, and nephews, and their grandchildren. They moved to Ann Arbor to raise a family, kept a beautiful home, and were involved in many organizations together such as the Sierra Club and local political affiliates. Most of all, they loved to travel the world together, visiting many countries, national parks, and spent winters in Florida enjoying retirement.

For the full obituary, please click here.

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