Archie Staples

Archie J. Staples, age 91, of Mears, passed away July 19, 2017 at the Oceana County Medical Care Facility in Hart.  He was born April 13, 1926 in Mears, the son of Hiram and Annie (Dimmler) Staples.  

Archie was a lifelong resident of Mears.  He worked for Floods at Old Trails Stables for eight years. He always had a love for horses.  He met his wife, Verla while working at Old Trails. Archie entered the U. S. Army in 1952.  He served in Korea during the Korean War.  He returned to Mears and married Verla Sherman on April 20, 1957.  He worked for the railroad for a time before being employed at Whitehall Leather Company for over thirty years.  Verla passed away on June 28, 2012.

He enjoyed hunting, fishing and bird watching.  He also enjoyed gardening, puttering in his garage and going to old engine shows and veterans ceremonies.  Archie was a beloved grandpa. He taught his grandkids to ride horses and told stories of traveling to Holland, Michigan to help shoe the Budweiser Clydesdales.  

Mr. Staples is survived by his children, Steven (Diane) Staples, Ruth VanDerZanden and Sharon (Tom) Alvesteffer; his grandchildren, Bobby (Nick) Johnson, Kali (Wade) Gieske, Mark Alvesteffer, Jamie VanDerZanden, Janie Alvesteffer, Melissa VanDerZanden, Daniel Brock, and Melissa (Scott) Pardew; great-grandsons, Logan and Wyatt Johnson; brother, Earl (Rosalie) Staples; and his sister, Agnes Rhodes.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Verla; his brothers, Victor, Vincent and Milan "Mike" Staples; and sisters, Katherine Foster, Josephine Skinner, Blanche Foster, Tressa Staples, Marie Staples, Margie Staples, Irma Bowden, Marcedes Staples and Dorothy O'Brian.  

Visitation will be held Monday, July 24th from 2 pm until the funeral service at 3 pm at Harris Funeral Home in Shelby.  Pastor Dan Barnum-Steggerda will officiate.  Burial with military honors will be in Mears Cemetery.  Memorials may be directed to Alzheimers Association, P.O. Box 96011, Washington DC,  20090-6011.  You may leave a message for the family at harrisfhome.com.

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