William Vivian Zeller

85, of Albion, MI passed away at Henry Ford Allegiance Hospital on October 15, 2018.  Bill was born on August 24, 1933 in Parma, Michigan to parents Ivan Vivian Zeller and Sarah “Sally” (Sines) Zeller.  His happiest moments were with his family and he loved playing cards and other games with friends and family (including poker nights with Bill Warren and crew). He graduated from Spring Arbor High School and Junior College (Spring Arbor, MI) and Greenville College (Greenville, IL). He loved to bowl, golf, play basketball and softball, and beat his grandsons and others at arm wrestling. In his 40s he beat out all the younger men to win the Jackson YMCA Super Star Competition. He was the original computer nerd, setting up the first computer systems for City Bank of Jackson and Jackson County, and later taught programming at several community colleges. He was a proud Marine, stationed at Camp Pendleton. He was a passionate craftsman and worked tirelessly to restore Albion’s Ismon House, right up until his last day!  He is survived by his wife, Shirley E. (Towne) Zeller of Albion; his sons, Greg (Julie) Zeller of Jackson, MI, William L. (Terry) Zeller of Jackson, and Timothy (Lynda) Zeller, of Cadillac, MI; grandchildren, Kacey (Jon) Moran of Columbus, IN, Chad (Natasha) Zeller of Jackson, Anastasia (Paul) Siegel of Kentwood, MI, Kristin Silecchia of Hillsdale, MI, and Samuel (Yuli) Zeller of Anchorage, AK.  Bill and Shirley have nine great-grandchildren (that’s right, nine!) under the age of seven: Joshua, Blaire, Gordon, Evelyn, Layne, Tatum, Vale, Callahan and Elouise.  He is also survived by sisters Carolyn Garnett, Joanne (Stan) Smith, Jean (Bill) Kozlowski, and brother Tom (Sharon) Zeller.  He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Marie Reeves and brother-in-law Duane Reeves, and brother-in-law Ken Garnett.  The Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, October 20, 2018, at Spring Arbor Free Methodist Church, 120 E. Main Street, Spring Arbor, Michigan 49283.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to complete Bill’s work on the Zeller Community room and the rest of the 2nd floor restoration at Albion’s historic Ismon House. Checks can be sent to Friends of the Ismon House, P.O. Box 186, Albion, Michigan 49224.

The family will receive friends at the Watson Funeral Chapel in Jackson on Friday from 2:00 – 4:00 & 6:00 – 8:00 pm & at the church from 10:00 am until the time of service.

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