Roy Erickson

Erickson, Roy January 30, 2010 age 94 of Plymouth. Beloved husband of the late Ruth. Loving Father of Laurel Appelt and William (Jane). Proud grandfather of Ten; Beth (Bob), Douglas, Susan, Linda, Stephen (Renea), Heather (Tom), Jennifer (Mike), Sara (Phil), Mark and Matthew (Jill), and great grandfather of sixteen. Tribute from Bill Erickson ~ My first recollection of Dad was when he was making an Olympic sized swimming pool for me. It was a few years later that I learned this pool was made with 2 x 4's and a canvas liner that he cut and hand sewed. While I never saw him leap a building in a single bound, he could do anything. Years later when I was driving home from a college class the cars oil light came on, but I made it home anyway. Dad pulled the car into the back yard and proceeded to take the motor apart. Growing up in the Depression one always fixed anything that was broken. Over a few days he took the motor apart cleaned the parts and put it back to together, and when he turned the key it started!!! Dad worked for The Pullman Co. for 24 years. He was responsible for keeping the passenger cars that went through Detroit, air conditioned. Dad had the fewest cooling failures of any railroad hub in the country. That is why he was given the job of maintaining the air-conditioning for The General Motors Train of Tomorrow. Dad said that when he had a problem he could not solve he would prey to the Lord for a solution and it would come. This faith and ability kept him in demand. He worked up until he was 88 years old. During World War ll he was an expert marksman and was chosen by his C.O. to go with him to scout out German positions on a regular basis. One of Dad's buddies told him he was dumb to hit the targets during practice. His buddy never hit the target and was always left back at camp to peeling potatoes. Dad's primary job in the Army was to climb utility poles and cut down the German communication lines and put up American lines. He would take a jeep out at night, in the front lines, to do his job. He was lucky because he always had trouble reading a compass. Mother was always the one that had the map and knew which way to turn. When I had left home Dad and Mother took care of 38 foster children from Lutheran Social Services. These children ranged from 2 days old to battered children. On one occasion mother hid out at the pastor's house of Christus Victor Lutheran Church until the threatening father could be arrested. Dad learned how to play the piano when he was young. His blind piano teacher came to his home on Trumbul Avenue on a street car and gave him his lessen for 15 cents, including her street car fare. When Mom and Dad moved from Dearborn his piano was in the basement. He thought it was too heavy, old and expensive to move. So, he went out to the garage and got a sledge hammer. He used that hammer on the piano until the pieces were small enough to carry out to the trash. The piano was an old upright grand piano with ivory keys made by Steinway!!!! Dad wasn't always right, but he was my Dad. I love you Dad. My first recollection of Dad was when he was making an Olympic sized swimming pool for me. It was a few years later that I learned this pool was made with 2 x 4's and a canvas liner that he cut and hand sewed. While I never saw him leap a building in a single bound, he could do anything. Years later when I was driving home from a college class the cars oil light came on, but I made it home anyway. Dad pulled the car into the back yard and proceeded to take the motor apart. Growing up in the Depression one always fixed anything that was broken. Over a few days he took the motor apart cleaned the parts and put it back to together, and when he turned the key it started!!! Dad worked for The Pullman Co. for 24 years. He was responsible for keeping the passenger cars that went through Detroit, air conditioned. Dad had the fewest cooling failures of any railroad hub in the country. That is why he was given the job of maintaining the air-conditioning for The General Motors Train of Tomorrow. Dad said that when he had a problem he could not solve he would prey to the Lord for a solution and it would come. This faith and ability kept him in demand. He worked up until he was 88 years old. During World War ll he was an expert marksman and was chosen by his C.O. to go with him to scout out German positions on a regular basis. One of Dad's buddies told him he was dumb to hit the targets during practice. His buddy never hit the target and was always left back at camp to peeling potatoes. Dad's primary job in the Army was to climb utility poles and cut down the German communication lines and put up American lines. He would take a jeep out at night, in the front lines, to do his job. He was lucky because he always had trouble reading a compass. Mother was always the one that had the map and knew which way to turn. When I had left home Dad and Mother took care of 38 foster children from Lutheran Social Services. These children ranged from 2 days old to battered children. On one occasion mother hid out at the pastor's house of Christus Victor Lutheran Church until the threatening father could be arrested. Dad learned how to play the piano when he was young. His blind piano teacher came to his home on Trumbul Ave. on a street car and gave him his lessen for 15 cents, including her street car fair. When Mom and Dad moved from Dearborn his piano was in the basement. He thought it was too heavy, old and expensive to move. So, he went out to the garage and got a sledge hammer. He used that hammer on the piano until the pieces were small enough to carry out to the trash. The piano was an old upright grand piano with ivory keys made by Steinway!!!! Dad wasn't always right, but he was my Dad. I love you Dad. ~ Visitation Monday 4-9 PM at Vermeulen Funeral Home, 46401 West Ann Arbor Road (between Sheldon and Beck) Plymouth. In state Tuesday 10:30 AM until 11 AM Funeral Service at Risen Christ Lutheran Church, 46250 West Ann Arbor Road, Plymouth. Interment Glen Eden Memorial Park in Livonia. Memorial Contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, Metro Detroit Region, 20300 Civic Center Drive, Suite 100, Southfield, Michigan 48076. To leave a message of condolence or share a memory with the family, please click on the view and send condolence link on this page.

Roy Erickson

June 7, 1915 - January 30, 2010