Samuel Wunderbaum

Sam Wunderbaum, 91, of Henderson, NV and formerly of Mt. Pleasant passed away Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2014, in Henderson, NV after a brief illness. A graveside service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, Oct. 6, at Riverside Cemetery in Mt. Pleasant with Rabbi Karen Companez officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Shriners Crippled Childrens Hospital or Central Michigan Jewish Community Association (502 N. Brown, P. O. Box 246, Mt. Pleasant MI 48858). Envelopes are available at Charles R. Lux Family Funeral Home in Mt. Pleasant. Sam was born May 25, 1923, in Monroeville, IN, son of the late Louis and Leah (Fogel) Wunderbaum. After graduating from Montpelier High School in Montpelier, IN, he belonged at an elite drum and bugle corps. He served in the U.S. Army in Guam in the Quartermaster Corps from 1943-1946. On Aug. 3, 1972 he married Ann C. Gall in Lansing. Along with his father, Sam co-owned and operated Mt. Pleasant Salvage and Steel, retiring in 1982. In retirement he continued to stay busy by working with metals and worthwhile projects. He accepted a job at a food market near his neighborhood about seven years ago and was working until about a month before his death. He loved the wonderful people with whom he interacted and was dearly appreciated by the store personnel. He was a founding member of the Central Michigan Jewish Community Association, former Mayor of Mt. Pleasant and past recipient of Citizen of the Year. He also belonged to the Shriners, Masons and Scottish Rite (32nd degree of Masons). He enjoyed working with stained glass and volunteered on countless community organizations. Sam was very community minded and loved his family, faith, community and country. He was most loving and loved. He was best natured, very outgoing and will be remembered as having a smile, humorous story and optimistic outlook. Sam is survived by his wife, Ann of Henderson, NV; two daughters from his previous marriage, Deborah (Michael) Hardwick of Houston, TX and Cheryl (Craig) Smith of Hemet, CA; two sisters, Rose Wunderbaum Traines of Mt. Pleasant and Fannie Wunderbaum Traines of Boca Raton, FL; and several nieces and nephews.