Wendell C. Gates

Wendell C. Gates II died at Bronson Hospice Residence in Battle Creek on December 18, 2015. A lifelong resident of the Lakeview area, he was born in the old Battle Creek Sanitarium Hospital on May 8, 1930 to Wendell C. Gates and Lenore D. (Carpenter) Gates.

In 1945, while still in Jr. High School, Wendell made a purchase that changed and marked his life from then on. He bought a 1930 Cord, Model L-29, front wheel drive Cabriolet, which he owned for the rest of his life.

In high school, Wendell participated most enthusiastically in band, debate and drama. Although inept in athletics, he did letter in tennis, at least partly due, he felt, to his family's well-maintained clay tennis court, which his father made available for team practice for the state finals, also on clay. The joke was that the team would have been welcome whether or not Gates was on the team.

After struggling academically for two years at the University of Michigan School of Literature, Science & The Arts, he found a safe harbor at the U of M School of Business. Focusing on Marketing and Finance, he graduated in 1952 with a Bachelor of Business Administration. During his senior year, a Zeta Psi Fraternity brother introduced Wendell to the love of his life, Helen M. (Peggy) George.

With the Korean "Police Action" raging and the Draft Board snapping at his heels, he was accepted into the Navy Reserve Officer Training Program and was commissioned an ensign in the Supply Corps. Upon commissioning, Wendell and Peg were married. After 62 years of happy marriage, he often said he would marry her again in a heartbeat!

Wendell's Navy tour was like an extended honeymoon. For the first six months, they lived on Staten Island, New York, then spent two and a half years at Virginia Beach, Virginia. Just before leaving the Navy, daughter Susan Lee was born in Norfolk, Virginia. Son Chuck (Wendell Charles, III) was born 21 months later in Battle Creek.

Upon leaving active duty, the family moved to Battle Creek, where Wendell joined his father, who managed Industrial Savings & Loan Association (later Peoples Savings and Loan Association) and learned the business from the ground up.

During his years of professional and civic service, Wendell served as president of Peoples Savings and Loan Association, executive vice president of Mutual Savings and Loan Association, President of the Michigan Savings and Loan League, board member of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis, president of the Southwest Michigan Real Estate Appraisal Association, president of the O'Sullivan's Furniture Polish Company, president of the Battle Creek Downtown Development Association, president of the Battle Creek Chamber of Commerce, board member of Battle Creek Unlimited, board member of the Battle Creek Memorial Park Cemetery, and president and 50-year member of the Battle Creek Kiwanis Club.

Wendell is survived by his wife Peg Gates, daughter Susan Gates Paauw, (spouse Jack Paauw), son Charles Gates, (spouse Judith Gates), granddaughters Margaret Ann and Emily Paauw, grandson Jacob Gates, (spouse Melissa Gates), and great grandchildren Jonas and Clara Gates.

Friends were received 2:00-4:00p.m. & 6:00-8:00 p.m. Monday at the Farley Estes Dowdle Funeral Home & Cremation Care, where memorial services were held 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, December 22, 2015. Inurnment was held at Memorial Park Cemetery.

Memorial contributions in memory of Wendell may be made to the Battle Creek Community Foundation or Bronson at Home Good Samaritan Hospice Residence. Personal messages for the family may be placed here at www.farleyestesdowdle.com.