William J. Sleeman Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

TRAVERSE CITY ---William Joseph Sleeman, 74, of Traverse City passed away on Friday, November 19 at Munson Medical Center. William was born June 21, 1947 in Detroit to the late Angela (Ouellette) Sleeman and Harold Sleeman. He is survived by his brother Michael and sister-in-law Rita (Heaney) Sleeman, niece Christine Sleeman, cousins Gail Lancaster of Ann Arbor and Dolores McNally of Clinton Township; and many other cousins, along with close personal friend Barbara Maison and her family. Bill was a very independent person who lived most of his life in Eastpointe and Roseville, MI before moving to Traverse City to be near his brother’s family in 2018. Bill graduated from Detroit’s Nativity High School in 1965, and was drafted into the US Army in 1968, serving overseas in Korea for a year at a lookout post near the DMZ. After being honorably discharged in 1970, he returned to Detroit to pursue a photography degree at Wayne State University. After earning his degree, he went to work as a professional photographer for 6+ years traveling throughout Michigan, doing portrait photography and sales in many different locations before transitioning to custom home-improvement sales. He spent the next 20+ years working for Sears, Roebuck & Co. and several other companies in home remodeling sales in the Detroit area. Bill had a great sense of humor and an engaging, relaxed personality that brought him success in his chosen field. Bill especially liked traveling and vacationing in the northwest Michigan area with his very good friend Barbara Maison, and she maintained a close relation-ship with the Sleeman family over the years. As a young man coming of age in Detroit’s golden era of muscle cars, one of Bill’s pastimes was cruising the streets of Metro Detroit with his close friends on warm summer nights. Having a great interest in cars, he was always the proud owner of a fine set of “wheels” which he meticulously maintained. It was almost an obsession with him, and he retained that enthusiasm for his personal vehicle all his life. Bill was an avid sports enthusiast, following the Detroit Tigers, Pistons, Lions and other Michigan collegiate teams. Some of Bill’s other interests were reading, enjoying his large music collection, and maintaining his home and yard; and having a keen interest in cars, one of his favorite activities of the year was attending the annual Detroit Auto Show with his brother, where he spent hours observing the new car models and displays. He also enjoyed attending the annual “Dream Cruises” on Woodward Ave., and in his hometowns of Roseville and Eastpointe on a semi-regular basis for many years. Bill was preceded in death by his mother, Angela and father, Harold; and his uncle Joseph Ouellette, and many uncles and aunts. He kept a close eye on, and looked after his parents and Uncle Joe in their later years. Also, the family would like to thank the dedicated caregivers and staff from Culver Meadows Senior Living community for providing years of comfort and support to Bill in his final years in Traverse City. Cremation will take place, and the family will celebrate his life in spring of 2022 at his final resting place in Roseville, MI. Please visit www.reynolds-jonhkoff.com to share your memories and condolences with his family.

William J. Sleeman

November 19, 2021