John Leonard Budde

John Leonard Budde Sr., 71, of Weidman, MI, passed away Saturday, August 27, at McLaren Bay Regional Medical Center. John was born in Belleville, IL on Feb 15, 1945, youngest son of the late Leonard and Anna (Schaefer) Budde. An active outdoorsman, there was no river, lake or landscape he wouldnt explore from the Ozarks of southern Missouri to the shorelines of Lake Superior. John was a gifted coach and mentor, touching the lives of generations of scholar athletes and sportsmen across northern Michigan. With his ready smile and love of conversation, John never met a person he wouldnt get to know and, more often than not, create a lasting friendship. John is survived by his wife Dr. Pamela Gates of Weidman, MI. John and Pam were embraced by and reveled in their large and loving family, including son, Captain Christopher J. Budde USN and wife Marlane of Norfolk, VA, daughter Bethany Budde-Cohen and husband, Tom Cohen of St Louis, MO, daughter, Erin Budde and husband, Richard Wolchock of St Louis, MO, step-son, Dr. Timothy Gates and wife, Melissa Gates of Frankenmuth, MI, step-daughters, Gretchen McIntyre and husband, Jason of Mt Pleasant, MI, Erin Senkowski and husband, Gary of Freeland, MI, daughter, Ashley Budde-Taylor and husband, Dr. Matthew Taylor of St. Louis, MO, and son, Carson Budde with Sophia Brueckner of South Lyon, MI; 12 grandchildren, including Melissa Taylor and husband, Dr. Phillip Taylor of Monrovia, CA, Maxwell Miller and Hannah Bartz of Eldon, MO, AJ Miller and Mark OMoran of St. Louis, MO, Alix, Nick and Chris Rasschaert of Frankenmuth, MI, Ryan, Autumn and Haley McIntyre of Mt Pleasant, MI, and Owen, Adelyn and Eli Senkowski of Freeland, MI, and four great-grandchildren, Anna, Jasper, Jaxon, and Ella; sister, Alice Stookey of Brecksville, OH; and brother, Thomas Budde and wife, Mary Budde of Belleville, IL; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends, too numerous to mention. He was preceded in death by his parents; son, John Sean Budde Jr.; father-in-law, Richard W. Elliget; and many four-legged companions. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Cadillac Area Community Foundation (201 N Mitchell St. #101, Cadillac, MI 49601 www.cadillacfoundation.org) to support the creation of the John Budde, Sr. & John Sean Budde, Jr. Memorial Scholarship for Student Athletes. All are welcome to a celebration of Johns life on Saturday, September 3, at the Budde-Gates Lake House in Weidman. The service will begin at noon with refreshments to follow. An interment service will be held at 9 a.m. Sunday, September 18, at St. John the Baptist Catholic Cemetery (Memorial Drive, Smithton, IL 62285). A reception to celebrate John's life will be held immediately following the service at SqWires Restaurant in Lafayette Square (1415 S. 18th St. St. Louis, MO 63104).