Roland Glenn Winter

Roland Glenn Winter, 98, of Marshall, Michigan, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, September 24, 2024 at Heritage Community of Kalamazoo, Michigan.

He was born on June 1, 1926 to Louis and Eva (Parker) Winter in Ceresco, Michigan.

Roland was a graduate of Battle Creek Lakeview High School. Shortly thereafter, Roland entered the United States Navy on Sept. 21. 1944 and was honorably discharged on June 20, 1946. He received the Victory Ribbon, The American Area Ribbon and the Asiatic Pacific Ribbon.

On January 8, 1946 Roland married Beulah L. Robinson at Newton United Methodist Church. Sadly, she passed away on November 13, 2006.

After Roland's Navy stint, he was a partner of Robinson Construction Co, building many new homes following the war in Kalamazoo, Battle Creek and the surrounding area. Roland started his own construction business in 1963 building pole barns initially and then custom homes until his retirement in 1991. He was also involved with making sure historical buildings in the Marshall area were structurally sound - Honolulu House, Underground Railroad, Sherman Realty Building.

Roland was a member of Home Grange which he joined at the age of 14(84 years) He has been a very active member during this entire time, holding an office most of these years. Roland was elected President of Home Grange the first time in 1954 at age 27 and served a total of over 30 years non-consecutively in this office. In addition to attending nearly every meeting, other Home Grange activities included Community Service Chairman where he assisted in variety of community service projects. Roland promoted the idea of creation of Newton Township Fire Department that led to its existence in the late 1950s. He served on the Building Committee and put in many hours in construction of the Home Grange Hall in the 1970s (currently Newton Township Hall). Other activities: baby quilt assembling, placing large quilts on the quilt frames, tying quilts, general hall maintenance projects, fund raising dinner setups, Hall Rental Reservation Chairman. Roland was the chairman or the Home Grange pancake tent at the Calhoun County Fair for many of the years of its existence. Roland always came in costume to the Halloween Party, and enjoyed participating in and coordinating the Fourth of July Parade sponsored by Home Grange. At the county level, Roland was a member of the B. E. Henry Building Association Board of Directors, and also served as President for several years of Calhoun County Pomona Grange.

At the Michigan State Grange level, Roland designed and built the Michigan State Grange Headquarters in Haslett which was dedicated in 1981. Roland served as President of Michigan State Grange from 1980-1996, as well as an additional 16 years of other State Grange offices. Roland was a founding member of Board of Directors of Michigan State Grange Foundation (2002), serving as President for several years.

He was appointed to the Task Force on the Revitalization of Agriculture Through Research and Education by Governor James Blanchard in 1986; also served as Co-Chair of the Governor's Conference on Agriculture in 1989. He had served since 1999 as Historian of Michigan State Grange. As Historian, he and Beulah assembled Histories of Granges of Michigan, created an album of photographs of Michigan Grange Halls, Histories of Michigan State Grange Presidents, and he created an electronic database of all members of Michigan Granges since the 1950s. In addition, he coordinated distribution of Dormant Grange materials to Michigan State University and University of Michigan for their historic preservation. He received the Historical Society of Michigan award for “Volunteer Service" in 2021 for this work.

At the National Grange level Roland served twice on the Historical Committee, as well as being elected to the National Grange Executive Committee from 1988 - 1992. From 1982 - 2003, Roland served as Priest Messenger, Assembly of Demeter, a member of the highest degree team of the Grange.

Roland assembled a Grange Museum in his basement. He had a dream of it being in a public place where it can be viewed someday. Holdings include publications (National and State Grange Proceedings, Legislative Policy, Rosters, etc.), signs, member badges, and miscellaneous Grange memorabilia. Grange visitors to the area often visit this museum, including at least two National Grange Presidents.

In addition to Grange activities Roland was a member of Marshall United Methodist Church, The Marshall Historical Society, the Barn Preservation Network and the Marshall Senior Center. He was also a member of the Marshall VFW and a life American Legion member (in Battle Creek). Roland volunteered on the building committee for the current Marshall United Methodist Church, and also for the addition of Newton United Methodist Church. He enjoyed playing pinochle and euchre, collecting stamps, completing jigsaw puzzles, watching westerns and football, especially the Detroit Lions. Roland became proficient in computers due to his involvement as the historian of the Michigan State Grange.

Roland is survived by his children; Jackie Bishop of Portage, Michigan, and Rebecca Winter of Meridian, Idaho; his five grandchildren, Eric (Holly) Bishop of Stockton Springs, Maine, Kathryn (Jen) Hsu-Bishop of Kalamazoo, Michigan, Amy (Craig) Pettinger of Aumsville, Oregon, Jenny (Mitch Maciona) Hamblin of Boise, Idaho and Andrew (Anna Goodman) Hamblin of Portland, Oregon; and by 10 great grandchildren. 

He was preceded in death by his wife, Beulah Lucille Winter, his parents, his siblings, Richard Winter, Russell Winter, Bernadine Bishop and Virginia Spear, his son in law, Marshall Bishop and his special friend, Vera.

Visitation will be held Sunday, September 29, 2024, from 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm at Kempf Family Funeral & Cremation Services, 723 US Hwy 27 N Marshall, Michigan 49068.

Funeral services will take place on Monday, September 30, 2024, 11:00 am at Marshall United Methodist Church, Marshall, Michigan, with Pastor Erin Fitzgerald officiating. Visitation will begin at 10:00 am prior to the funeral service.

Burial will take place at Newton Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be directed to the Michigan State Grange Foundation.

Please visit www.kempffuneralhome.com to view the online obituary, to sign the online guest book or to leave the family condolences.