COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – Coldwater Township Sunrise Rotary has paid special tribute to deceased club members. Last Thursday, following their regular meeting, a half dozen Sunrise members drove to several cemeteries in the Branch County area and placed flowers at the gravesites of nine club members, many of whom were founders of the club in 1986.
John Harpst, who organized the project, told his fellow Rotarians last week that it was important to say thank you, honor, and remember those club members who have passed, especially those that got things going for the Sunrise group 3 decades ago. That included the late Hal Creal, who died two months ago.
Harpst said when Creal proposed the creation of the Sunrise club, it was a contentious issue for a while for members of the morning organization and those who were members of the original long standing Coldwater Rotary Club, now known as Noon Rotary. According to Harpst, Creal was grateful those fences pretty well got mended and that today, the two clubs share projects, such as the 4th of July Fireworks celebration.
He added that Creal understood “the importance of service clubs, not just one”. Harpst said Creal and the others who were honored set in motion the standard of excellence for Sunrise Rotary that club is known for and maintains moving forward.
