iceboating.net Minnesota Ice Sailing Association

From: jsarns
Sent: Mon, Mar 26, 2012 6:18 pm
Subject: [IceBoating] Bill Sarns - Charter member of IDNIYRA

William B. ‘Bill’ Sarns, 83, of Harrison Township, Michigan, passed away
in the early morning hours of Sunday, March 25, 2012 at Detroit's Henry
Ford Hospital, surrounded by his family. He died from complications of type 1
diabetes, which he battled quietly and courageously for over 61 years. He
was born in Mt. Clemens, Michigan on July 15, 1928 and was a lifelong
resident of the area. On August 15, 1959, he was united in marriage with Evelyn
Joan Rosso at the First United Methodist Church of Mt. Clemens.
From 1946 to 2002, he owned and operated William B. Sarns Company in Mt.
Clemens, where he manufactured iceboat hardware for the ‘DN’ class iceboat,
given its name after being developed in a competition held by the Detroit
News in 1936. He was an avid supporter of the sport of iceboating. He was
a member of several iceboating clubs and organizations, including the
Detroit Ice Yacht Club, and the International DN Ice Yacht Racing Association,
which he helped found in 1953. In the summer months, he enjoyed sailing
on Lake St. Clair, Lake Huron, and the North Channel. He was also a member
of the Hazel Park First United Methodist Church.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Richard in 1994, and Blanche
(Miller) Sarns in 2003.
Bill is survived by his wife of 52 years, (Evelyn) Joan ; sons Matthew of
Harrison Township, and John of Berkley; brothers, Richard (Norma) Sarns of
Ann Arbor, Theodore Sarns of Harsens Island and Naples, FL, and Harold
(Gwen) Sarns of Harrison Township; and one sister, Marilyn (Jim) Williams, of
Creve Coeur, IL.
The family is especially grateful to the many specialists at Henry Ford
Hospital for their decades of support and counsel.

Visitation will be held on Friday, March 30, 2012 from 1:00-2:00 PM for
family; then 2:00–8:00 PM at the _Harold W. Vick Funeral Home_
(http://www.vickfuneralhome.com/fh/home/home.cfm?fh_id=10502) , 140 S. Main St. in Mt.
Clemens.
Funeral 11:00 AM (instate 10:30 AM) on Saturday, March 31 at the at the
_Hazel Park First United Methodist Church_
(http://www.hpfirst.org/index.html) , 315 E. 9 Mile Rd. in Hazel Park, with Rev. Cherrie Sporleder
officiating.
The family has requested memorial contributions be made to Hazel Park
First United Methodist Church; 315 E. 9 Mile Rd.; Hazel Park, MI 48030; or
Henry Ford Hospital Office of Philanthropy, Dorothy Kahkonen Lectureship Fund;
1 Ford Place, 5A; Detroit, MI 48202.