Charles E. Dettling

Charles E. Dettling, 81, of Black River died Thursday, April 15, 2010 at home. He was born February 7, 1929 in Freedom Twp.,MI to Elmer and Nellie (Davenport) Dettling. Raised in Manchester, Charles worked as a manufacturing engineer for Double A Products. On June 4, 1953, he married Janet MacDougall in Detroit. They were residents of Manchester until retiring to Black River in 1989. Known as “The Bike Man”, Charles refurbished old bicycles and gave them away to needy children. He was a member of St. Gabriel’s Catholic Church in Black River. Charles is survived by seven children; Curt (Brenda) of Milan, Joe (MaryAnn), Bruce (Michelle), and Jill (Greg) of Manchester, Cheryl (David) Bauer of Tecumseh, Debra (Jim) Barth of Harrisville, and Cathy (Pam) of Black River, 17 grandchildren, 5 great grandchildren, his sister in law; Susan (Edward) Gardner of Interlochen, MI, and his cherished pets; Toby and Alf. He was preceded in death by his wife; Janet on August 6, 2008, by his grandson; Andrew Thompson, and by two brothers; Victor and Clifford Dettling. Mr. Dettling is at Gillies Funeral Home, Lincoln, where visitation will take place on Friday from 4 until 8 pm, with a Parish Prayer service at 7pm. Visitation continues on Saturday at St. Gabriel Catholic Church at 10 am until the Funeral Mass at 11 am. Rev. Robert Bissot will officiate. Burial will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery in Manchester. Memorials suggested to Hospice of the Sunrise Shore or to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Charles E. Dettling, please visit our flower store.