Rev. William "Bill" G. Mindel

William Gary Mindel, 69

Rev. William "Bill" Gary Mindel, 69, of Petoskey, Michigan, died Friday, February 10, 2017 at Butterworth Spectrum Hospital in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Bill was born March 18, 1947, in Petoskey, the son of William and Viola Mindel. He grew up in Willis, Michigan and attended school at Lincoln High School.  After High School Bill attended Henry Ford Trade School and later, Mt. Vernon Bible College in Ohio.

He married Karen Ann Kirk in Willis, Michigan on February 6, 1965.

Bill was co-owner of Kirmin Tool and Die Company in Romulus, Michigan. He was also a contractor and owner of Bill Mindel Construction, and most notably, Bill was the founder and Pastor of Harbor Light Community Chapel and Harbor Light Christian School in Harbor Springs.  A man of simple pleasures, Bill enjoyed few things more than working with his hands.  Whenever he could slip away from the duties of a pastor, if even for a couple of hours, few things brought him more peace than tinkering on a car, driving the tractor on the farm, doing the odd building project, or cooking a big pot of Bill's famous chili.  Throughout his life as a pastor, Bill touched thousands of lives, both locally and through his mission work.  He has helped to improve the circumstances and living conditions for people in communities as close as Detroit, Muskegon and Chicago and as far away as Mexico, Central America, Haiti and India.  There he and others worked together to build homes, churches, orphanages and schools. To Bill's family his legacy as a pastor pales in comparison to his legacy as a husband, a father and a grandfather.  His council, his presence, and above all his love will truly be missed. 

Bill also served our community as a member of the board of Joy Valley Medical Center with Dr. Patton; and on the board of Calvary Ministries International. 

Bill surviving family include his loving wife of 52 years, Karen and by his son Gary (LisaKay) Mindel, daughter, Kim (Paul) Kemmeter, son Mike (Tina) Mindel, daughter, Dora (Bob) Johnson, 9 grandchildren, 4 great grandchildren, and brothers and sisters, Barb Wagner, Ernie Mindel, Betty Jackson and Vicki Gamble.  He was preceded in death by his parents.

Rev. Bill Mindel's life will be remembered, honored and celebrated with a memorial service that is planned for this Friday, February 17th at 11:00 a.m. at the Harbor Light Community Chapel; Rev. David DeRouchie will officiate. 

Rather than a gift of flowers, friends and family are encouraged to give a charitable donation to the, "Pastor Bill Mindel Scholarship Fund" c/o Harbor Light Christian School.

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