The Peace Education Center and the Greater Lansing community suffered a great loss today at the unexpected death of Bill Petry, a key member of our Middle East Awareness Committee and a longtime champion of peace and justice locally and globally. Please keep Bill’s friends and family in your hearts and thoughts through this difficult time.
The Obituary can be read by clicking here. Funeral arrangements are below.
Visitation is from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. Friday with services 10:30 a.m. Saturday, August 29, in the Tiffany Funeral Home, 3232 W. Saginaw, Lansing with Fr. Peter Dougherty and Rev. John Powers officiating. Internment is at Deepdale Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Michigan Peace Team or the Peace Education Center in memory of Bill. Friends may visit the guest book at www.tiffanyfuneralhome.com.
Also below please find a collection of photos from Bill’s work with the Peace Education Center, as well as PEC Co-chair Tom Rico’s interview with Bill about his time in the West Bank with the Michigan Peace Team.
Click on the link below to see a few more photos of Bill’s hard work for peace and justice with the Peace Education Center.
Flickr Photo Album
And to hear Bill talk about one of the issues that he championed here and throughout the community, listen to Peace Podcast Episode 15: An interview with Bill Petry about his experiences in the West Bank with Michigan Peace Team.
Friday’s community bike ride — the Ride Around Town–will be dedicated to the memory of Bill Petry. Find out more at the facebook event page (you need a facebook account to log in): http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=140000761824
The Lansing State Journal published a piece about Bill’s peace work. Read that by clicking here.
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I have known Bill since I moved to Lansing in 1975. I have always teased him that even though we share the same last name, I’m the one who spells it correctly. Somewhere along the line he dropped a “T”. Even though my time with MEAC was in the past, I still try to work every day to live my life in respect to the kind of life Bill and Julia do. There were so many MEAC dinners made, so many events planned, so many rallies attended. I could say there will be a large emptiness left, but in my heart I know there was a man who worked for Peace along side so many others. Everyday he filled the world with song and smiles and love. There is no emptiness when we have that. Thank you Bill and Julia for that which you left me, Ursula, Lansing and the World.
Such a shocking loss! I have known Bill since I moved to Lansing in 1990. We met and became friends and allies through the Coalition for Community Concerns and worked together on many efforts over the years, including his run for the Lansing School Board. He was always there when anyone needed him and always worked tirelessly to help make this world a better place…and in many ways, it is because of our friend Bill. He and Julia have touched many lives and we are all better people for having had that privilege. Bill will be sadly missed, but we have been blessed with fond memories that will live on within our hearts. Thank you Bill…and thank you Julia for having shared Bill’s kindness and good heart with the rest of us.
The first time I met Bill, I had only been living in Lansing a few months. He helped drive a van down to the SOA protest in Ft. Bening, Georgia. He was such a constant–I think of him attending meetings and helping with set up or clean up, attending vigils, rallies, fundraising events….once a month we had a committee meeting on Monday nights at Emil’s for the “all you can eat spaghetti” nights. I especially remember the surprise birthday party he gave Julia. He was so devoted to her; so devoted to the community and the groups he worked with. I am shocked and saddened. I am thinking of Julia and their children.
Such sad news. I met Bill last year when he helped to host the Wheels of Justice Tour in Lansing. I was encouraged by his warm welcoming and the gentle and thoughtful way he worked for justice in the world. Bill Petry, Presente!
Losing Bill helps me understand the phrase “heart-broken” in a whole new way. Bill was at the very heart of the peace & justice community here in Lansing. In fact, many times he was the “pace-maker”: jump-starting us into action, and keeping the momentum going. Bill will always have residence in my own heart, just as he will for Lansing at large. The fire of his spirit is inextinguishable.