Albert (Al/Bill) William Bird, Jr., age 89 of Belmont, MI and Cleveland, TN (formerly of Diamond Lake, White Cloud MI) passed away peacefully into his Savior's presence on October 23, 2021, lovingly cared for and surrounded by his children at Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids. He was born August 28, 1932 in Heburon/Levering, Munro Township, MI and grew up in Cheboygan. He was the adored son of Albert Wm. Bird, Sr. and Bernice (Ostwald) Rodery. From an early age he played and worked with his dad on the Josie B boat, shipping produce, meats and dry goods for the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, his childhood playground. He was christened into the Catholic church while he was a baby in his mother's arms and later as a teenager, he was baptized into his Christian faith at the Baptist Church in Newaygo. He married his beautiful wife of 44 years, Mary Ellen (Craigmyle) on May 17, 1952 and together they raised a family of 8 children on the 40 acre muck farm on M-20 in White Cloud. He played football and graduated with the class of 1953 from Grant High School. Bill moved to Grant in 1949 and began working shoveling coal for M.L. Twing/Chitmun's Elevator, working on the farms of Vanderhage, Placmire's, Dyke and Pleasures and carrying a mechanic's toolbox for Campbell, Wyant and Cannon (CWC) in Muskegon. He was an honest, hard and fearless worker and quickly was promoted to supervisor at CWC. In 1968 he opened Bird's Welding repair shop and soon after began selling Chaparral and then Skidoo snowmobiles. A natural born salesman, he excelled and consistently won many trips and awards for top recreational vehicle sales in his region. Due to his brilliant business mind, he was known around Michigan for having parts and products for snowmobiles that no one else could get. Towards the end of his career he worked for Reynold's Aluminum Co. in Grand Rapids as a welding supervisor. Bill held 5 journeyman licenses; welding (from the Lincoln School in Chicago), machine repair, crane operator, diesel mechanic and millwright. He was a Master Mason in good standing for many years and attained the 32nd degree in the Consistory. Later in life he took a demit and became inactive but spoke kindly of his experiences in the lodge. He loved the USA and served his country during the Korean Conflict in the Marine Corp; protecting his country like he did his family. He was a member of the Morley-Stanwood VFW Lodge #554. Bill was an excellent marksman and coached Rifle and Pistol at Camp Matthew in LaJolla, CA. He was the 1964 Seaway Gun Club handicap winner. Prior to his illness Bill enjoyed snowmobiling, hunting, motorcycling on his Spyder, yard saling and traveling. After retiring in 2000, he so enjoyed the view from his deck on Diamond Lake and making fall color tour trips around Michigan. He traveled to the holy land of Israel and was rebaptized in the Jordan River. He loved telling stories of yesteryear and listening to the daily bible teachings of Shepherd's Chapel. SURVIVORS : his children - Kathie (Neil) Lewis - Sparta, MI; Keith (Lanie) Bird - Big Rapids, MI; Craig Bird (friend Cymantha) - White Cloud, MI; Patti (Vic) Martin - Lexington, MI; Robert (Julia) Bird - Big Rapids, MI; Debbie (Stan) Billings - Cleveland, TN; Linda (Rob) Gould - Belmont, MI; Kim (Harry) Budde - Rockford, MI; Bonnie Ostwald (old friend) - Grant, MI; 28 grandchildren, 43 great grandchildren and 3 great, great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife Mary Ellen (d. 12/23/96), parents, step-father William Rodery, son-in-law Bill Martin and great grandsons Nehemiah and Nikolai Bird. The family would like to extend a special thank you to Cindy Kozlowski of Comfort Care for the expert care given to him in his last months. We hold so many great memories of you, Dad, through the years as we all grew older. Your strong work ethic, generosity, willingness to volunteer to help others in need and your strong faith were blessings to each of us kids and those around you. We were blessed to have you for 89 years. Your loving wife, your mom, dad and Grandpa Rodery are all welcoming you to heaven where you'll hear Jesus say, "Well done, my good and faithful servant." Rest now, your work is done... VISITATION with the family on Monday, November 1, 2021 from 11am – 1pm at the Crandell Funeral Home – White Cloud Chapel 1109 Court Street White Cloud MI 49349. FUNERAL SERVICES with MILITRY HONORS : Monday, Nov. 1, 2021 at 1pm at the Crandell Funeral Home – White Cloud Chapel with Pastor Patrick Shea of Trinity Church, Newaygo Campus presiding. Friends will be able to watch the funeral services online via Zoom and will need to contact the funeral home prior to the services to receive an email for the zoom link information or follow this link https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86058623437?pwd=RVhKTzJEZWF3S2k0OVQrNWkrMHpPUT09 INTERMENT : Parkview Cemetery in Grant. MEMORIAL CONTRIBUTIONS: Morley America Legion Post 554. Friends may send a condolence or share a memory with the Bird family online at www.crandellfh.com. Arrangements by Crandell Funeral Home – White Cloud Chapel. 231-689-1492 To plant Memorial Trees in memory of Albert "Al/Bill" William Bird, please click here to visit our Sympathy Store. Visitation Monday, November 1, 2021 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM White Cloud Chapel 1109 E Court Street White Cloud, Michigan 49349 Military Honors Monday, November 1, 2021 1:00 PM White Cloud Chapel 1109 E Court Street White Cloud, Michigan 49349 Funeral Service Monday, November 1, 2021 1:15 PM White Cloud Chapel 1109 E Court Street White Cloud, Michigan 49349