First Deline

First Sergeant (Ret) Michael "Top" Bill Deline, age 66, of St. Louis, MI passed away Thursday, June 19th, 2014 at Gratiot Medical Center, Alma, MI.
A Memorial Service will be held at St. Louis Church of Christ, St. Louis, MI, on Saturday, July 12, 2014 at 2:00 P.M. with Dr. Keith Wise officiating. Visitation will be held from 12:00 P.M. until the time of service at the church. Internment will be at Great Lakes National Cemetery at a later date.
Michael was born in Alma, Michigan on December 28, 1947, the son of Willis and Dorothea (Kenyon) Deline. Mike married Colleen Jill Dancer on July 15, 1978 in Ithaca, Michigan.
Mike served his country in the United States Army. He served with the 25th Infantry Wolfhounds in Vietnam for 3 years after being drafted. He served a total of 11 years of active duty being honorably discharged in March 1979. He then served 33 years in the Michigan National Guard, retiring in April of 2003 as First Sergeant. Mike worked for General Motors and retired after 34 years of service. He also worked for the St. Louis Police Reserves for several years. He was a member and a ride captain of the Michigan Patriot Guard. Mike enjoyed driving around in his 1964 GTO and the Florida Gators. He and Colleen enjoyed traveling together, especially to Disney World. Mike loved his nieces, nephews, his special son Howard & wife Meggan and his two cats, Trixie and Gizmo. His favorite saying was "Lead, Follow, or get out of my way."
He is survived by his wife Colleen, sisters Connie Homister and Sharon Pyman, brother & sister in law Brian and Roberta Dancer, many nieces and nephews, special son Howard and Meggan, and mother in law Virginia Dancer.
Mike was preceded in death by his parents, Willis & Dorothea Deline and his father in law Duane Dancer, 2 brother in laws, Carl Homister and Ken Pyman, great nephew Brent Beechler and his cats, Herman & Barney.
Memorials may be made to Michigan Patriot Guard Inc. 1645 Midland Road Saginaw, MI 48638 or Patriot Guard Riders Inc. (National) P.O. Box 735 Grand Blanc, MI 48480-0735.
Online condolences can be sent to www.smithfamilyfuneralhomes.com The family is being served by Smith Family Funeral Homes St. Louis, Michigan.
Read First Sergeant Michael "Top" Deline's Obituary and Guestbook on smithfamilyfuneralhomes.com.