William “Herman” Tait, 83 of Coldwater passed away Saturday, July 15, 2017 at Drew’s Place.

A funeral service will take place at 1:00 PM on Wednesday, July 19 2017 at Dutcher Funeral Home in Coldwater. Interment will follow with Military Honors by Coldwater American Legion Post #52 at Bronson Cemetery. Visitation will be prior to the service beginning at 11:00 AM.

William was born October 23, 1933 to Spencer and Bernice “Bunny” (Payne) Tait in Flint, MI. During his school years he worked at “Bunnies Brunch” doing dishes and cleaning tables along with his brother Reid. He graduated from Coldwater High School in 1952 and shortly after worked in maintenance for the Community Health Center before entering the US Army. Herman served two years active duty and six years in the reserves. He spent 37 years as an inspector and Union Steward with the UAW at Midwest Foundry, retiring upon the closing of the business. On September 12, 1953 he married Shirley Ann Luse in Coldwater. Their marriage ended in divorce. He later married Cheryl J. Christensen on February 23, 1996. She preceded him in death on March 11, 2014.

Herman was a man with many interests. He was a life member of the Balsa Butcher’s in Quincy, the Academy of Model Aeronautics in Muncie, IN, and the NRA. Herman was an avid outdoorsman enjoying hunting and fishing. He fly fished with his own flies on the AuSable River in Grayling and the Manistee River. Herman liked going mushroom hunting with good friends Greg & Sue Speaker especially going north to their cabin. He liked traveling to Colorado to pan for gold or go metal detecting, contracting “Gold Fever” on those trips. Herman liked tinkering with old cars, especially his Model A and Volkswagons. He viewed himself as a “Professional Woodchuck Hunter”. He was known to attend garage sales, looking to haggle over items of interest to him. Herman’s greatest interest outside of his family was building and flying all kinds of model airplanes, a passion he shared with his brother Reid since childhood.

Mr. Tait is survived by his daughter Delores (Dennis) DeVault of Montpelier, OH; his step-daughter Kristie (Clifford) Boger of Coldwater; his sister-in-law’s Ardith Tait of Midland, and Betty Erickson of Camp Hill, PA; his grandson Erin (Jenni) Koch: his step-grandchildren Clifton Carman, Laura (Tom) Dunn, and Michael Boger; his great grandchildren Cody (Halie Altaffer) Koch, Zoe Koch; his great step grandson Michael Carman; his great, great granddaughter Emerlee Koch; his niece Shannon Houda; his nephews Stanton, Bradley, and Wes Tait; and his long-time friend and caregiver for the past few years Tonja Curtis. He was preceded in death by his parents; both of his wives Shirley and Cheryl; his brother Reid Tait; his son William “Billy” Tait; his in-laws Chester & Dorothy Luse; his good friends Greg Speaker, Jack Brown, Dale Jackson, Bob Smith, Don May, Mervin Luce, Harold Curtis, and Sam Comorgan.

Herman will be missed and remembered with humor, wit, laughter and most of all for his ability to spellbind you with all of his many stories he has shared with everyone through the years.

Memorials may be directed to Branch County Humane Society, Drew Place Activities Fund, or Southern Care Hospice. www.dutcherfh.com.