William Henry Mogle, Jr.

William was the only child born to Maybelle and William Mogle, Sr in Detroit, MI. on January 15, 1919.  Bill told everyone for as long as anyone can remember he would live to be 100 years old and that he did! Bill was raised above the grocery store his parents owned, with his aunt’s being very involved in his life. Aunt Blanche was a school teacher, so Bill credited her with being able to skip the third grade, which was the grade she taught. Watching the Tigers has always been a passion of Bill’s starting as a young boy when he was close enough to walk to Tiger Stadium on the dirt road to watch them play ball.  Bill always spent time up north in St. Helen. Bill’s parents bought lake property and built cottages there. He and his dad built 20 boats in Detroit, tested them on the Detroit River and sent them by rail up north to be used at the resort they named ‘The Highlands’. Bill’s dad had stake in boat engines that became known as Evinrude Motors. Bill’s mother passed away from breast cancer when he was 12 years old. He helped care for her by changing her dressings. After her death he and his father moved to Lake St. Helen full time and help run the busy hunting resort.

 Education was important to Bill as he was always a very good student, graduating from West Branch High School at 16 years old, where he played football, basketball, and tennis. This is where he would meet his lifelong best friend Wynn Steuernol. Bill attended University of Michigan for one year and an avid “Go Blue!” fan was born. After a year at Michigan, Bill transferred to Albion College initially for medicine but he graduated in Chemical Engineering and was a member of Sigma Nu. Bill was very proud when 70 plus years later three of his great grandchildren were accepted to Albion College and could receive a small scholarship because he was an alumni.

Bill married Justine Sheppard, who was a school teacher. Both of them enjoyed their family, playing cards, dancing, parties, completing puzzles, and spending time on the water. Bill played bridge as recently as last week and always had a game thanks to his son, Chuck and friends Jim Franklin, and Steve Christian. Bill had a private pilot license and owned his own plane for many years. When his great grandson, Joe received his different pilot licenses he passed on his pilot maps and books to him. His son, Chuck and grandson, Tony were also private pilots. Bill did not go to WWII because of his bad eye site. He instead worked at Willow Run Airport and x-rayed B-24 Bomber Airplanes to make sure they were built properly. Bill then took a job in Jackson at Anotreat where they did anodizing. This job lead to Bill opening Mogle Industries in 1960 that did plating, mainly for the car industry. Bill and Justine had two children Gayle and Charles whom they raised in Jackson, MI.  Gayle and Chuck stayed in the Jackson area to raise their families with Chuck and his wife Pam working in the family business until its sale.

 Bill and Justine greatly enjoyed going to their children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren’s school activities and sports. Bill attending great grandchildren’s activities this year. Bill and Justine also spent many winters in Key Colony Beach, Florida. Bill spent many hours fishing on their boat “Just Bill” (Justine/Bill), especially with his grandson, Tony.  Bill’s favorite time of the year his entire life was always Christmas and it was always spent with family. There was never a year without a perfectly decorated Christmas tree, his Santa hat and a gift from Santa. Bill always viewed Christmas from the eyes of a child.

Bill was preceded in death by his wife Justine two months shy of their 70th anniversary, his brother and sister in- law Jack and Patt Sheppard, his grandson, Charles Jacob, and great granddaughter, Tess Taylor. He is survived by his daughter, Gayle (Daniel) Jacob and son, Charles and Pamela Mogle.  Grandchildren, Jency (Joffray) Marcantel, Jr., Karyn (William) Taylor, Anthony (Kirsten) Mogle, Carey (William) Garrison, and his namesake, William Jacob. Great grandchildren Joffray(Megan) Marcantel, lll, Justine Marcantel, his wife’s namesake, H. Ross Taylor, Ailsa Taylor, Connor Mogle, Maggie-Wallis Taylor, Matthew Mogle, Henry Garrison, and Charles Garrison. Great great grandchildren, Stella Marcantel and her sibling baby Marcantel who is on the way that Bill was excited about.

We would like to thank all the true caring people from RidgeCrest/Trilogy Health and special care people Cheryl Craft, Nikki and Rachel. In lieu of flowers please consider making donations to the Gayle M. Jacob Cancer Center at Henry Ford Allegiance Hospital. There will be a visitation Tuesday, September 17, 2019, 5:00pm.-7:00pm at Watson Funeral Chapel in Jackson. A small family ceremony will be at a later date.

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