Brian James Fletcher

Brian Fletcher was a quiet and reserved man, until you got to know him " then you were fair game! Goofy and fun-loving, Brian always had a joke or a snappy comeback intended to bring a smile to the faces of his family and friends. Loved ones will always remember Brians standard morning greeting: Daylight in the swamp or his other quirky one-liners. When asked whats for dinner, he would reply, Liver and onions and when someone told him he looked sharp, he quickly retorted, Pretty sharp for a dull guy. But underneath his happy-go-lucky exterior, however, Brian had a core of strong values, and an unshakeable dedication to his faith and his family. His friendly smile, eagerness to help others, and kind heart will be deeply missed by all those whose lives he touched. Brian was born on January 27, 1963, to proud parents Larry and Carol (Green) Fletcher. Larry worked as a tool and die maker for Kro-Die in Grand Rapids, Michigan, while Carol was a homemaker. Brian grew up in the small town of Rockford, Michigan, along with six siblings: Tammy, Larry, Dawn, Dan, Shannon, and Kory. Brian was a middle child, born between Larry and Dawn, and loved teasing his younger siblings. Perhaps because they were close in age, Dawn was a frequent target of Brians sometimes elaborate pranks. For example, Dawn remembers having a sleepover in a tent in the familys front yard: in order to give Dawn and her friends a surprise in the morning, Brian tied a bull to the tent stake! Or, more simply, Brian would call Dawn over to look at something, only to squash a tomato worm between two rocks once Dawn was within spraying distance. As a boy, Brian had a healthy appetite, and appreciated his mothers home-cooked meals. In fact, whoever was saying the dinner prayers would often add the phrase, and dont let Brian eat all the [whatever they were having for dinner]! Brian graduated from Rockford High School in 1982, but his talent for pranks was still famous. One year, he was called back in by the school to help remedy a situation that the senior class had created. As a prank, the class had let a greased pig loose in the hallways. Unfortunately, no one could catch it! The school personnel called Brian, and told him that if he could catch the pig, it was his. Brian managed to subdue the pig, and it became a family pet in the Fletcher home for the next six years. While Brian was in high school, he had worked part-time as a butcher at Ada Beef. After graduation, he was asked to stay on, and started working full-time. Brian would work for Ada Beef for a total of 10 years. In the meantime, Brian was introduced to a young lady named Mary Gross. Brian and Mary met through mutual friends, the Cousinea family, and were members of the same church: Ambassador Baptist Temple of Wyoming, Michigan. Brian and Mary soon realized they wanted to spend the rest of their lives together, and were married on July 12, 1986 at the very same church in which they met. After a honeymoon in Kentucky, the newlyweds moved to Riverdale, Michigan, where Brian had a job offer from Randell Manufacturing. At Randell, Brian impressed a co-worker with his wildlife artistry. This led to a job opportunity at the Wildlife Gallery of Blanchard, where Brian would work for the next 15 years as a fur finisher. As the years went by, Brian and Mary were blessed with four children: Holly, Hanna, Heidi, and Keith. Brian was a devoted, loving father, and always made time for his family. His kids describe Brian as scrappy, and not afraid to do anything. Brians idea of baby-sitting was to prop them against a tree with a BB-gun. He would make sure they were safe and bundled up warmly, and then as they fell asleep he would hunt! Over the years, Brians children learned when not to do something: if their dad offered them money to do it. For example, Brian might say, Ill give you 25 cents if you touch that electric fence. Brian loved the outdoors, and he enjoyed sharing this passion with his children. He often taught his kids about nature, and how to survive in the great outdoors. He liked to take the kids ice fishing, figuring that the more people he had in his party, the more tip-ups he could put through the ice. Closer to home, Brian helped his children with their 4-H projects, and was a faithful fan at their sporting events. Brian and Mary belonged to the Marantha Baptist Church of Mt. Pleasant, Michigan. Brian was an active member of the faith community, and often donated his time to participate in church building projects. He gave his children a good spiritual foundation, teaching them moral behavior and encouraging them to attend church. In his free time, Brian could usually be found hunting or fishing. He also enjoyed looking for Native American artifacts, collecting coins, and metal detecting. Every year, Brian looked forward to hunting and fishing trips to Canada. He and his family made many memorable trips over the years, including vacations to Disney World in Florida and Mississippi (both before and after the children were born) and a camping trip to Canada. Their favorite destination, however, was Beaver Island, which was a very special place for Brians family. Helpful, fun, goofy, and kind-hearted, Brian was a devoted husband, a loving father, and a loyal friend. He will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered by his many friends and family members. Brian J. Fletcher passed away on December 9, 2012, at the age of 49, surrounded by his loving family. Brians family includes his wife of 26 years, Mary; his children, Holly (Jeff) Kreitner of Aurora, CO, Hanna (Jim) Cairns of Six Lakes, and Heidi Fletcher and Keith Fletcher, both at home; his parents, Larry and Carol Fletcher of Rockford; his siblings, Tammy (Steve) Vidro of Rockford, Larry (Sandy) Fletcher of Greenville, Dawn (Mike) Despress of Belmont, Dan (Tina) Fletcher of Harpers Ferry, WV, Shannon (Mike) Mengyan of Rockford, and Kory (Melissa) Fletcher of Sand Lake; and many nieces and nephews. Friends may attend his viewing at Charles R. Lux Family Funeral Home, 2300 S. Lincoln Rd., Mt. Pleasant, on Wednesday from 2-4 and 5-8 p.m. Cremation will follow and his Memorial Service will take place at 3 p.m. on Thursday at Maranatha Baptist Church, 1526 Airway Dr., Mt. Pleasant, with Pastor Gene Haymaker officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Maranatha Baptist Church or to the wishes of the family. Envelopes are available at the funeral home.