Obituary for Gary L. Byl Gary L. Byl passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on September 1st. He was born in Grand Haven, MI, May 7, 1930 to Gerritt and W. Mae (Boyink) Byl. He married Marie Teresa (Midge) Gignac on January 30, 1953 in Grand Haven, MI.
He was an active member of Lakeshore Fellowship Church, participating in the monthly men’s breakfast/bible study, TLC group, and served as a volunteer at the Spring Lake store for Love In Action. Over the years, Gary was active in many other groups, serving five terms as a church elder, teaching Sunday school and bible study. Gary was an enthusiastic hunter, in Michigan as well as pheasant hunts in Nebraska and Iowa, and deer and antelope hunts in Montana.
Fishing took up most of his recreational time, especially for salmon and trout in Lake Michigan on the family boat, the “Semper Fi”. His hobbies included fly-tying and rod building. He made a fishing rod for all of his grand-children using their school colors to attach the line guides to the pole.
Many groups benefited from his fishing efforts, as he was generous with his hand-tied fish flies, and he did many fish fries for small and large groups in the area. He was a Life Member of North Ottawa Rod & Gun Club, Local American Legion, Post 2326, and Local VFW, Post 28. Gary was also a member of the “Chosin Few”, (U.S. Marine Corps battle of North Korea in 1950), the U.S. Marine Corps “Leatherneck Association”, and the U.S. Marine Corps League.
He was a Charter Member of the group that sponsors the annual Marine Corps Breakfast on the U.S.M.C. birthday, Nov. 10th.
Gary served as President of the Spring Lake Band Boosters, as a Planning Committee Member for the Spring Lake Waterfront Park and Trailer Park and was an original Board Member of the Evergreen Village in Spring Lake. Gary attended local schools and continued his education at Ferris Institute (1950’s), Arizona State College and MSU, using the G.I. Bill and various campus jobs as support. He began his professional sales career with Procter & Gamble Case Soap Division, where he worked for twelve years.
He continued his sales career with DeMoulin & Company, a band and fraternal uniform firm, and was involved with sales training & marketing for twenty years in Michigan and other midwestern states. Gary finished his sales career in the office furniture industry. Survivors include his wife, Betty Boston Byl; five children, Bruce (Mary) Byl of Traverse City; Michelle (Mike) Davis of Traverse City; Jeanne Underwood of Reno, NV; Nancy (Fred) Darga of Spring Lake; Mike (Robyn) Byl, of New York, NY.
Also surviving Gary are thirteen grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, three sisters, Karen (Hank) Mauriello of Winter Haven, FL; Mary Byl of Spring Lake; Wendy (Glen) Schlukebir of Hart. He was preceded in death by Midge Byl, his wife of 50 years; son, John and grandson, Tucker. A memorial service will be held at a later date that has yet to be determined.
Memorial contributions in memory of Gary may be given (cans or checks! ) to the Food Pantry of Love in Action (www. loveinactiontricities.org/donations.
html) or monetary donations to Hospice of North Ottawa Community (www. noch.org/heartwood). Please sign the family’s online guestbook at www.
sytsemafh.com. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Gary L. Byl please visit our Sympathy Store.
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