Verdun Family Funeral Home And Cremation Services

For myself it is a day when I silently pay respect to all men and women in uniform regardless of their country of origin, race or religion. Wars have a price and it is not in money, it is in human life.During World War I my grandfather, who I called “Pape,” was a gunner during the entire Battle of Verdun. Some 3,200 soldiers died daily fighting over a strip of land for nine months and 20 days non-stop that included bombing from either side. One third of the soldiers engaged were never found and still rest there. Pape never talked about his service nor displayed his medals on his white uniform. They remained hidden in a closet for decades.He never made friends either, as he knew that these smiling, energetic soldiers fresh from training camp could be dead by sundown. He did not need to, as every Nov. 11 we stood — in rain or snow — immobile and silent, listening to the call of each soldier’s name. Roughly 25 percent of the able men in my hometown in France never came back from the front.There we stood, silent alongside men with wooden legs, patches on their eyes or funny scarfs around their necks — forever silent as their throats were burned by gas. Some had lost their reason.Pape served for you and Veterans Day reminds us of all the soldiers who gave all for their countries in the name of freedom.Little did my grandfather know, 20 years later, darkness would cover the country again. Veterans Day is for my father who spent four years harassing France’s invaders, smuggling and feeding people — with three different death warrants on his head. Veterans Day is for my mom who carried plastic explosives under her skirt right under the Gestapo’s noses.To me, this is the meaning of Nov. 11. It does apply here in the United States, to all the soldiers sent to war. They should all be honored for their sacrifice for this country. Behind every soldier there is also a family.

Saturday, May 28, 2016, at his home surrounded by his family. He was born Aug. 3, 1945, in Tecumseh, Mich., to Frederick and Virginia (Dwyer) Dermyer. Mike proudly served his country in the U.S. Navy and was a Vietnam veteran. Following his time in the Navy, Mike chose to continue serving others, this time as a law enforcement officer. Mike spent a total of 44 years in law enforcement. He started out walking the beat in Detroit before being promoted to patrol, then detective and continued to serve the community as an undercover narcotics officer and homicide detective. After leaving Detroit, Mike served the community of Columbia Township as chief of police before finally retiring as the undersheriff of Lake County.For those of you who knew Mike, or “Mickey” as he was affectionately known by close friends and family, knew his love for telling stories. You may have heard about the time he and one of his brothers set the woods on fire around the family home with paper airplanes and a camp fire. How about when he convinced one of his sisters that there was a difference between winter air and summer air in her car tires? What about his first motorcycle, or as others tell, his first moped that he rode while fully decked out in leather jacket, helmet and combat boots. He also often told the story of him and his brother putting their father’s car through the ice on Clark Lake. Whatever the story, Mickey lived an exciting life, never missing an adventure or an opportunity to create a new story to be told later on down the road.Mike is survived by his wife, Betty; his mother, Virginia (Dave) Hoffman; his children, Michelle Dermyer, Angel (Albert) Barker, Christin (Bernie) Smith, Jennifer (Tim) Porter, Melanie (Eric) Devine, Eric Estrada, Patrick (Tonya) Dermyer and Devin (Alisha) Dermyer; 22 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; his siblings, Joan (Phil) Davis, Ed (Jenny) Dermyer, Fred (Debbie) Dermyer, Anita (George) Nagel, Freida Dermyer, Martha Dermyer, John (Chris) Dermyer, Claire (Tony) Colburn, Deann (M...