Harry Franklin Sanborn

Harry F. Sanborn joined the Detroit Tigers Fan Club in Heaven on Friday, July 29, and we know he will be cheering for them at every game. Harry was born in Traverse City on June 13, 1927, to Mary and Albert Sanborn. He lost his father at a young age, but was blessed to have a loving mother who raised him with strong values. He demonstrated his strong work ethic at a young age, delivering ice and papers after school. While a teenager, he worked for a local lumberyard. After graduating from high school, he enlisted in the Coast Guard and enjoyed assignments that allowed him to see much of the world. He excelled in radar and electronics and later taught courses in those subjects at the Great Lakes Maritime Academy. Upon retirement from the Coast Guard (with the rank of Chief Warrant Officer), he worked for Red Mill Lumber Company and eventually started his own business, Sanborn Electric, where he worked on commercial and residential projects all over Leelanau and Grand Traverse counties. Harry served multiple terms on the Governmental Employees (now 4Front) Credit Union board. Harry had an affinity for proper land use, particularly in his beloved Bingham Township. He served as Township Supervisor for 14 years, and in that time, he was instrumental in restoring the Bingham Township Hall, establishing the Suttons Bay-Bingham Fire and Rescue, purchasing Boughey Park on West Bay, negotiating a number of contracts for the township and setting in place the vision and policies that helped shape the future of the township. Harry was also a Lifetime Member of the VFW. Harry married Loretta (Groesser) Hunt on August 29, 1975. Together they traveled, spent time with family, built a beautiful home, served the community and enjoyed life until her death in 2013. Harry was also preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, two sisters and a grandson. He is survived by his daughter, Susan (Ted) Bready, and his son, Steve Sanborn, as well as his stepchildren, Lori (Mitch) Ware, Chuck Hunt, Stan Hunt and Lisa (Keith) Ferguson, two beloved nieces, Shirley Eckerle and Elma Collins and a nephew, John Travis. He leaves behind twelve grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren. Harry was a unique and wonderful man. His many passions included wood working, euchre, pinochle and politics, but his greatest passion was baseball, especially the Detroit Tigers. Because of this, anyone attending his memorial is asked to wear your favorite Tigers shirt or hat. Let’s say goodbye in style! Memorial services will be held on Wednesday, August 3, at 11:00am at the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home with a burial service at 1:00pm at the Bingham Township Cemetery. A luncheon will follow at the Bingham Township Hall. Visitation will be at the funeral home on Tuesday, August 2, from 5:00 - 8:00pm and one hour prior to the services. If desired, memorial donations may be made to the Bingham Township Parks and Recreation Fund.

Harry Franklin Sanborn

June 13, 1927 - July 29, 2016