William Harold Rider

William Harold Rider 04/09/1934 to 03/15/2024 William Harold Rider was born to Harold and Gertrude Rider, in Lansing, MI on April 9, 1934, and passed away on March 15, 2024 at his home in Eagle, MI. He was a retired General Motors skilled tradesman, fisherman, general handyman, and a frequent traveler with his wife Helen Sue. His prolific machine shop was used daily during his retirement, up until physical limitations prevented him from doing so. After he had a stroke, he was still able to build a sailboat, and a beautiful wood bedframe with his son, Sean. During their traveling years, Bill and Sue spent a few summers in Alaska site-seeing, camp-hosting, and fishing, as well as taking trips to Canada for fishing, Oshkosh for the EAA fly-in, Daytona for Bike Week, and miscellaneous other family trips wherever we wanted to go. In his earlier years, Bill raced motorcycles, was a pilot, and would SCUBA in his swimming pool (really the only time he was in the pool). He was the type that if he got mad, you’d know, but he did anything and everything that his family needed or wanted. There were plenty of times that Sue would put him in his place, but it was always in his best interest. Bill is preceded in death by his wife, Sue, his parents, his sister, and a grandson. He is survived by his son Sean, daughter Cynthia, granddaughter Holly (Jason), great-grandchildren Nova and Sabine, sister Pat, and estranged daughter and her family. As he never wanted a memorial service, just to be buried in a pine box in the backyard (sorry Grandpa, but that’s not happening), therefore the family will not be hosting a memorial. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in his name may be given to Alaska State Parks, Department of Natural Resources, 550 W. 7th Street, Suite 1360. Anchorage, Alaska 99501-3557 https://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/donations or the Alzheimer’s Association Capital Area Regional Office, 2111 University Park Drive, Okemos, Michigan 48864 https://www.alz.org/?form=FUNSETYDEFK, would be encouraged. Arrangements by the Holihan-Atkin-Barclay Funeral Home, Grand Ledge. Share your memories and condolences online at www.holihanatkin.com

William Harold Rider

April 9, 1934 - March 18, 2024