Obituary of Skip Champagne
Clifford Roland Champagne was born on April 8, 1948, in Monroe, Michigan. He was one of five children born from the union of Clifford and Delores (Stoner) Champagne. Skip graduated from Jefferson High School in 1966. He enlisted in the United States Army on December 11, 1968, and served in Korea prior to his honorable discharge on April 27, 1970. He returned home to care for his ailing mother. Proud of his service he was a member of the VFW Post #514 in Ida.
To provide for his family, Skip was gainfully employed at Ford Motor Company for thirty-seven years. He was a committed member of the UAW Local #898. Unfortunately, due to illness, he was forced to retire in 2004, a decision made with much regret because he cherished his work and his colleagues at the Rawsonville Plant in Ypsilanti, Michigan.
Skip’s love for his home state sports teams was epic. The University of Michigan was a significant part of his life; their football games filled his weekends with joy, and he rarely missed a chance to watch them play. Alongside his college sports enthusiasm, Skip was an avid supporter of Detroit’s beloved professional teams like the Lions Football and the Tigers Baseball.
Beyond sports, Skip held a particular fondness for scratch-off lottery tickets. There was a certain ritualistic joy and the simple pleasure he found in scratching away the silver film, often with a cold Budweiser in hand.
In the kitchen, Skip’s culinary talents emerged through his love for hearty, comforting dishes. His stews and chicken noodle soup weren’t just meals but expressions of love.
Kindness was Skip’s hallmark. He was respected and admired for his non-judgmental, impartial nature. He had a knack for keeping things balanced and was often the voice of reason, even humorously keeping his wife, Sherry, “in line.” Together, they shared a partnership that was both fun and loving.
Skip had a passion for the great outdoors, which led him to annually embark on hunting trips to Gaylord with his close friends, where they engaged in turkey and deer hunting. Fishing was another escape for Skip. In his younger years, Skip had his own boat and was at home on the water, a place where he could unwind from life's demands. Loving the northern woods, Skip enjoyed spending time at his Hilltop Cottage. The decision to sell previous to falling ill was a poignant marker of life’s natural transitions.
Clifford Roland Champagne, age 76 of Ida, passed away at his home on Wednesday; October 16, 2024, at 3:02 am. He was surrounded by his family and under the care of Heartland Hospice. His passing was preceded by his parents and two sisters: Donna Meyer and Kay Fisher.
To cherish his memory, Skip leaves his wife: Sherry; two children: Ryan Champagne and Jeanette (Kelly) Schultz; two sisters: Carol (Richard) Mushing and Jean (Mark) Woodruff; four loving grandchildren; two small great grandchildren; and several nephews and a niece.
Friends may gather on Tuesday; October 29, 2024, from 2:00pm until 6:00pm at Merkle Funeral Service, North Monroe; 2442 North Monroe Street, Monroe, Michigan 48162 (734) 384-5185. A Celebration of His Life will follow at 6:00pm, also at Merkle’s. Interment at Great Lakes National Cemetery, in Holly, Michigan will take place on Wednesday; October 30, 2024.
Online guests may leave words of inspiration and comfort or share a photo by visiting www.merklefs.com.