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In Memoriam

William Mackie Jr. "Mackie" Or "Bill" Black - Class Of 1951

William Mackie Jr. Mackie Or Bill Black

William "Bill" Mackie Black, the only son of William Mackie Sr. (1897-1950) and Mary Louisa (VanSyckel) (1900-1990) Black, was born 20 April 1933, Okemos, Ingham County, Michigan.  Bill graduated in 1951 from Okemos High School.

Bill joined the US Navy during the Korean War era and sailed all over the Pacific.  As a young man he farmed for a season and then gradually moved into the trucking industry, later owning and operating a trucking company.  In 1997 he married Karen Elizabeth Peck.  Karen, born 13 September 1948, died 18 January 2002.  Bill married Linda Susan "Sue" Rambadt in 2003 (Battle Creek Enquirer 19 August 2003; marriage license listing). 

Bill died 16 December 2006, Battle Creek, Calhoun County, Michigan.  He was interred, as was his wife Karen, Fort Custer National Cemetery, Augusta, Kalamazoo County, Michigan.

Lansing State Journal (Lansing, Michigan) Tuesday 19 December 2006

Battle Creek Enquirer (Battle Creek, Michigan) Tuesday 19 December 2006

WILLIAM (BILL) MACKIE BLACK

Age 72, owner of Bill Black Trucking, LLC, died at home on Saturday, December 16, 2006 following a courageous battle with cancer.  He was born April 20 1933, in Okemos, MI to the late William Mackie Sr. and Mary Louisa Black.  Bill's early years were spent helping his Dad in working the family meat packing business, doing chores on the family farm and working at Michigan Agricultural  College, the predecessor to MSU. His hobbies were typical of a young man growing up in the Midwest in the pre WWII years.  He graduated from Okemos Highs School in 1951.  Bill joined the United States Navy due to the outbreak of the Korean War.  He became a Seabee and served throughout the Pacific.  Bill moved to the Lake Odessa area in early 1960's and farmed for several years until working with Smith Bros & Velte, Co. from 1965-1989 and Wolverton Cattle Company from 1989 to 1997.  In 1997, Bill started his own trucking company and moved to Battle Creek. He married the former Karen Peck and they worked together for several years in the trucking industry up until her death in 2002.  Bill then married the former Linda Susan "Sue" Alldaffer of Indian in 2003.  Bill is survived by his wife Sue; his sons, William (Kimberly) Black of The Woodlands, TX, Kenneth (Kathleen) Black of Grand Ledge, Darrell (Teresa) Black of Alto; daughters, Deana (John) Brownlow of Cascade, Darla Sutton of Lowell; step-daughters, Shelly (Greg) Cole of Battle Creek, Christy Peck, Deborah (Tim) Tucker of Oakwood, OH, Junetta (Ken) Dunakin of Oakwood, OH; a multitude of loving grandchildren and great-grandchildren; sisters, Ada Meade, Jean (Lenneth) Britt and Margret (Wayne) Musbach and a host of nephews, nieces, other relatives and many friends.  He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Mary Lou Ramsey and Georgia Kay Krieder and infant daughter, Ledonna.  Visitation will be held at Bachman Hebble Funeral Service on Tuesday from 6:00 - 8:30 p.m.  Funeral services will be held Wednesday, 11:00 a.m. at Bachman Hebble Funeral Service.  Burial will be in Fort Custer National Cemetery.