Stuart Jay Bearup, son of George Herbert (1880-1944) and Edith Fanny (Hudson) (1888-1965) Bearup, was born 2 June 1917 in Ingham County, Michigan. He graduated from Okemos High School in 1935. Captain Stuart Bearup married 1st Lieutenant Jean Crooks 16 October 1945 in France. The couple returned to the US after World War II where Stuart became a successful insurance man in Charlotte, Eaton County, Michigan. Stuart died 24 December 2005 in Eaton County.
Lansing State Journal (Lansing, Michigan) Tuesday 27 December 2005
BEARUP, STUART J.
Age 88, died, Saturday 24, 2005 following a brief illness at the Eaton Community Hospice in Charlotte, surrounded by his family including Jean, his loving wife of 60 years. Stuart was born June 2, 1917 in Okemos, the eldest of two sons of George H. and Edith F. (Hudson) Bearup. His father was an Ingham County Deputy Sheriff and his mother an English teacher at Okemos High School. A graduate of Okemos High School and Michigan State University, Stuart answered his county's call to serve in January 1941 by joining the U.S. Army. Following boot camp at Fort Brady in Sault Ste. Marie, he received advanced training at Camp Robinson (Arkansas), Fort Rucker (Alabama) and officers training at Fort Benning (Georgia) and Camp Blanding (Florida) before shipping overseas to the European Theater of operations in World War II. Stuart saw combat in the Brittany region of France while commanding an Infantry Cannon Company of the 66th Division. As a result of this action he was promoted to Captain and received the Bronze Star. His division then moved cross-county to the German city of Bad Neuheim on the Rhine River. After V-E day he was reassigned as an Aide de Camp to Brigadier General Benjamin Lauer who headquartered near Arles, France. While there he met First Lieutenant Jean Crook {Winifred Jean Crook born 28 August 1920}, an army combat nurse from Durango, Colorado who was stationed with the 165th General Hospital. After a four month courtship, Stuart and Jean were married on October 16, 1945, first by the Mayor of Marseilles and then by an Army Chaplain at the General's Chateau Legier headquarters in Font Veille. A week-long honeymoon at the Hotel Carleton in Cannes followed. The two remained married for sixty years. Stuart was a member of the U.S. Army Reserve for over thirty years, retiring at the attained rank of Lieutenant Colonel. During this period, he served as a summer instructor at various military installations around the country including Fort Benning, Fort Benjamin Harrison (Indiana), Fort McCoy (Wisconsin) and at the Army War College (Kansas). Beginning in 1947 Stuart and Jean made their home in Charlotte and were blessed with three children; Patricia (1947), George (1949) and Richard (1952). Stuart was the owner of Charlotte Insurance Agency, Inc. from 1948 until his retirement in 1986.
His community and civic service was significant. He was a member of the Charlotte Rotary Club from 1948 until his death, serving as President (1955) and later, as a District Governor of Rotary District 636 (Southwest Michigan). He also served as the personal representative of various Presidents of Rotary International to several other states. His service as a Rotarian was marked by many distinctions, including his local club's Clyde Fulton Community Pride Award; the District Service Award; and the Service Above Self and Distinguished Service Awards, the two highest accolades conferred by Rotary International. Stuart was a member of the Hayes Green Beach Hospital Board for over 25 years and a member of the Friends of Maple Hill Cemetery Board for over 30 years. He was a leader in the establishment of a new community library, a past member of the Charlotte City Council and a member of the City of Charlotte's Economic Development Corporation and Board of Review. Stuart was one of the first General Chairmen of Charlotte Frontier Days. He was also a long-time lay leader at the Lawrence Avenue United Methodist Church and Past Commander of the Greenwalt-Flaherty American Legion Post. Stuart and Jean were constant companions and immensely enjoyed traveling together to visit their grandchildren, winters in Florida and Arizona, and took many international trips that included: Austria, the Caribbean, Egypt, England, France, Germany, Greece, Holland, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, Morocco, Panama, Portugal, Scotland, Spain and Switzerland. He is survived by his wife, Jean; daughter, Patricia (Gary) Webber of St. Cloud, MN and grandsons, Stuart and Grant; son, George (Patricia Jean) of Traverse City and granddaughter, Brooke and grandson, Jay; and Richard (Judy) of Charlotte and granddaughters, Kathryn and Jessica (Abraham) and grandson, Ted (Jodi). He is also survived by his nephew, Stuart (Carol) Bearup of Twin Falls, ID. He was preceded in death by his brother, Ross. The family will receive visitors Monday 6-8 p.m. and Tuesday 2-3 and 6-8 p.m., family and friends are invited to participate in a Family Affirmation Service Tuesday 7:30 p.m. at Pray Funeral Home, Stuart's funeral service will be 110 a.m. Wednesday, December 28, 2005 at Lawrence Avenue United Methodist Church, with Pastor Karen Wheat officiating. Interment will be at Maple Hill Cemetery.