Arthur LeJean Marshall, 95, of Allen passed away Friday, June 12, 2026 at the McGuire Skilled Nursing Facility in Hillsdale.
In honor of his love of the Hillsdale County Fair, a celebration of life and ice cream social will take place Wednesday, September 30, 2026, following the open class sheep show, starting at 6:00 p.m. at the Hillsdale County Fairgrounds in the Open Class Sheep Barn.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the VanHorn-Eagle Funeral Home in Hillsdale.
He was born February 17, 1931, in Allen to Ralph and Thelma (Baker) Marshall. He married Hattie Jane Spear October 28, 1961, and she preceded him in death March 14, 2025.
LeJean graduated from Quincy High School in 1948 and went on to attend at Michigan State University and later attended Hillsdale College before joining the United States Army.
Upon his return he went back to work on the family farm in Allen. LeJean was extremely involved in the farming community. He was part of the Michigan Farm Bureau, a board member of the Fifth Farm Credit District, Chair of the PCA board, and the State Council for Voc. Ed for Michigan.
He also was part of MSU’s Kellogg Farmer Program which gave him opportunities to travel the world. He bred Dutch Bantam chickens and added two new colors that are recognized in the Bantam Standard of Perfection. His love for Suffolk sheep was highlighted when he set the world record for a suffolk female at public auction.
LeJean and his boys worked with a lot of outside professionals to push the genetics in their purebred flock of suffolks. Reproductive specialists worked at the farm to bring AI, embryo transfer, and heat syncing to maximize the improvement of the lamb crop every year. Raising high quality stud rams to sell to commercial flocks was their primary goal. The annual bred ewe sale, as well as showing and selling all over the United States and Canada made for a busy crew.
LeJean is survived by three sons, Tom (Renee) Marshall, Bart (Lynn) Marshall, and David Marshall, all of Allen; five grandchildren, Nicholas Marshall, Allison (Max Tennant) Marshall, Alyssa (Klay) Snyder, Kimberly (Luke Wallace) Walkup, and Andrew (Nicole) Herzog; three honorary granddaughters, Emily, Mindy, and Crystal; and 13 great-grandchildren with one more on the way.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife of 63 years, Jane; and a daughter, Melinda Marshall.
Memorial contributions are suggested to McGuire Skilled Nursing Facility or the Jonesville United Methodist Church.
Comments