Harold James Estelle

Estelle, Harold James, August 18, 2023 age 84 of Howell. Loving father of Deborah (Ronald) Ruppel, Melanie Estelle, Elizabeth (Steve) Nobles and Shawn (Jon) Pippenger. Proud grandfather of Jeffrey Ruppel, Nicholas (Nathalie) Ruppel, Brittani Copley, Emily (Kyle) Cottick, Alexis Rowley and Connor Pippenger. Great grandfather of Nathalie Jane, Audrey, Caroline, Charlie Rae, Lily, Logan and Carter. Harold was born on September 22, 1938 to parents James E. and Louise L. (nee: Calhoun). He was the youngest child in the family, having two older sisters, LolaJean and Dorothy. He was raised in Parsonages as his father was a Minister with the Church of the Nazarene. They moved about every five years. In and around Grand Rapids, Durand, Sturgis, Bay City, and Kalamazoo were some of the Michigan cities where James pastored Nazarene Churches. After getting his Bachelor’s Degree in Education from Western Michigan University, Harold and his family moved from Sturgis to Battle Creek, where he taught fifth grade at Lakeview Elementary School. In August of 1962 he and his family moved to Garden City where he was transferred to teach fifth grade at Marquette Elementary School. He then became Assistant Principal at Burger Jr. High School, then Principal of Harrison Intermediate School, then Douglas Elementary and then Farmington Elementary before retiring in 1996. He decided to work part time in retirement by driving a van for People’s Express taking passengers to their Dr. Appointments. He did this job until 2018 when he turned 80 years old. Harold was always happy spending time with his close and many extended family members. Visitation Tuesday, August 22nd 3-8 PM at Vermeulen-Sajewski Funeral Home, 980 N. Newburgh Road (between Ford Road and Cherry Hill) Westland. In state Wednesday, August 23rd 10 AM until the 11 AM Funeral Service at Hilltop Church of the Nazarene, 21260 Haggerty Road, Northville. Interment Thursday, August 24th 12 PM at Oaklawn Cemetery in Sturgis, Michigan. Memorial contributions may be made to National Kidney Foundation of Michigan, 1169 Oak Valley Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48108- 9674 or CorsoCare Hospice, 950 Corporate Office Drive Suite 150, Milford, MI 48381. To share a memory, please use the Share a Memory tab on this web page.

Harold James Estelle

September 22, 1938 - August 18, 2023