Frederick Raymond Sawdy

Fred Sawdy, age 87, of Hastings Township, died on May 16, 2018. He was born on June 23, 1930 to Miles and Florence (Vandlen) Sawdy and was raised in the Woodland, Michigan area. He attended grade school in Woodland and graduated high school in Lake Odessa in 1948. He married Doris Mote in 1949. They had 4 children - JoAnne, Karen, David and Steven. In 1971, he married Thressa Ann (Miller) Mote. With this marriage, came step-children - Linda, Loren, and Beverly.

He served in the U.S. 5th Army at Ft. Bliss, in EI Paso, Texas, as a Radar Specialist from 1952 to 1954. He served in many capacities in the church throughout his entire life, including full time service as a pastor for a number of years and as a lay pastor for most of his life, sharing and teaching the love of Jesus to others. He was an active member of the Hastings Church of the Nazarene. Fred was famous for his homemade chocolate fudge and blessed many with this talent. He spent hours working in his yard and gardens, and loved watching and feeding the birds. He also had a passion for fishing and loved living on the lake.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Thressa, parents, brothers Lloyd and Edward, sisters Rosa and Irene, and step-daughter, Linda, and several grand baby angels that he never had the privilege of meeting this side of Heaven.

He is survived by his children, Daughter - JoAnne (Merle) Emery of Rockford, MI; Daughter - Karen (Mark) Lehman of Hastings, MI; Son - David (Anne) Sawdy of Marcy, NY, and Son - Steve (Tanya) Sawdy of Nashville, TN, step-son - Loren (Karen) Mote of Lake Odessa, and step-daughter - Beverly (Steve) Swartz of Alice Springs, Australia. Also, left to his legacy are 36 grandchildren, 34 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great-grandchildren.

Arrangements to celebrate Fred's Celebration of Life are as follows: Visitation at Girrbach Funeral Home 328 S. Broadway Street, Hastings, MI 49058 from 4:00-7:00 p.m. on Friday May 18, 2018. On Saturday, May 19, 2018, Visitation at Hastings Church of the Nazarene 1716 N. Broadway Street, Hastings, MI 49058, at 10:00 a.m. with Celebration of Life Service at 11 :00 a.m. Committal Service at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens in Grand Rapids, MI at 2:30 pm.

Memorial contributions can be made to the Hastings Church of the Nazarene. The family asks that all who are attending his Celebration of Life Services, to honor Fred by wearing your favorite Detroit Tigers baseball apparel or gear, as this is how he will be laid to rest. Thank you. To leave online condolences visit www.girrbachfuneralhome.net .