William (Bill) Nicholas Stellin of Cascade, Michigan passed away peacefully on Tuesday, July 16, 2024, at the age of 88. He had been treated for cancer for the last 15 years. He will be warmly remembered and missed as an amazing dad, a loving husband, a beloved grandfather, cherished brother, and a caring friend. His curiosity and sense of wonder were the cornerstones for a life of shared adventure, family pride, service to others, lived faith, and colorful storytelling that will be cherished for generations.
Bill is survived by his wife of 62 years Judith (Hoover) Stellin of Cascade; sons Mitchell Stellin of Grand Rapids, and David (Marcy) Stellin of Rockford; daughter Kimberly (Guy) Bickford of Hudsonville; five grandchildren, Nicholas (Brooke) Stellin, Lilly (Andrew) Stallmer, Sophie Stellin, Benjamin Bickford, and Jonathan Bickford; and brother Carl (Marlene) Stellin. He is also survived by cherished nieces, a nephew, and other special friends and acquaintances around the world. Bill was preceded in death by his parents Nicholas and Ruth (Burdick) Stellin.
Bill was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan on November 5, 1935. He grew up on the Thornapple River, not far from the home he lived in with Judy. Bill graduated from East Grand Rapids High School and earned a bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University, where he was a member of the Theta Xi fraternity. Bill met Judy while they were students at MSU, and they were married in April 1962. He continued to be a loyal Spartan throughout his lifetime. He proudly served his country as a member of the National Guard from 1961 to 1963. After college, Bill began a long and productive career in banking with Union Bank and retired as a trust officer from Comerica Bank. Over the years, Bill also served on the boards of the Kent County Road Commission and Thornapple River Association.
Early in their marriage, Bill and Judy developed a love of sailing and spent most summer vacations and weekends exploring Lake Michigan with their children and making friends at marinas in Holland, Michigan, and eventually further north in Muskegon. They were popular members of the Macatawa Bay Yacht Club in Holland for more than 40 years. Bill and Judy bought their fourth sailboat, the 42-foot Jaywalker, in 1996, and after retiring in 2000, set sail on a trans-Atlantic crossing that would ultimately last for eight years and take them to ports up and down the Mediterranean coast. They regularly shared their stories of adventure with family and friends in highly amusing, insightful, and descriptive journal entries via email. When they returned to Grand Rapids in 2008, Bill collected and edited those journals, added photos, and compiled them into a three-book series he published as “Sea Trek – A Passion for Sailing.” Bill also wrote articles on retirement investing and sailing for The Wall Street Journal.
Bill and Judy continued to sail Lake Michigan until 2023, when he was 87 years old. Highlights including winning the Ugotta Regatta in Harbor Springs, Michigan, in 2017 with a full crew of family and friends. Bill and his family also participated in many sailboat races on Lake Michigan over the years including the popular Queen’s Cup Milwaukee to Grand Haven race.
During the winter months, Bill and Judy enjoyed family ski trips to Colorado and Utah, making his last big mountain ski trip at the age 85. Bill also had a passion for driving and owning sports cars. From his 1976 Datsun 280Z to his recent BMW convertible, Bill appreciated high performance driving. He participated in three BMW performance driving schools and twice travelled to Germany to purchase BMWs directly from the factory so he could have relationships with the people who built his cars.
Bill’s life was guided by his strong Catholic faith, and he was a faithful lifelong member of St. Robert of Newminster Catholic Church in Ada.
Visitation with the family will be at 10 a.m. on Saturday, July 27, at St. Robert of Newminster Catholic Church, 6477 Ada Drive in Ada. The funeral mass, officiated by Rev. Logan Weber, will follow at 11 a.m. The family will host a reception at the church after the mass. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate memorials to Bill’s life be made to Catholic Charities West Michigan.