William Russell Totten

William (Bill) Totten “Slick Willie” “Rotten Totten” age 74 of Gaylord, MI and North Port FL, went to his heavenly home Friday January 31, 2025. He was born on June 4, 1950 and he was the oldest of four children. A true outdoorsman he enjoyed hunting, fishing, snowmobiling and boating. He went on many hunting trips out West and the Upper peninsula of Michigan. On one such bear hunting trip in 1976 to Iron River, MI he met the love of his life, Lynne. They were married in 1977 blending their children Tom, Kim, Spencer and their daughter, Heather arrived in 1978. Bill was an avid car “guy” since 16 yrs. old. His work ethic, honesty, respect, and hunger to learn led him to working on corvettes and managing many body shops in the Metro Detroit area. In 1982 he opened and built his own successful auto body shop, Totten’s Body Shop in Gaylord, MI. But retirement was calling his name so in 2018 he sold his successful business to his son Tom who carries on his legacy, integrity and reputation. Over the years he loved designing and had his hands on building or remodeling all their beautiful homes. Years ago he helped build a beautiful log home in the Upper Peninsula where he made wonderful memories with family and friends, hunting, fishing, snowmobiling, riding 4 wheelers, or sitting out by the bonfire. He took so much pride in teaching his passion, respect, responsibility, and safety in everything he did with his family and friends. Later he bought a simple cabin but he had to make it a grand home on the Sturgeon River in Indian River creating more memories. Later in life, was about the simpler things that mattered like being closer to family when we were home in Michigan. He wanted to make sure he and his wife Lynne were closer to daughter Heather so she could help care for them as they got older along with being surrounded by the rest of the children. He was having our last home remodeled by his son Spencer. He was so proud of the work he was doing. Bill enjoyed cooking and feeding family and friends. Many of his children and grandchildren learned some of their cooking skills from him. On a recent trip back to Michigan a granddaughter learned how to make his “famous potato salad” alongside him. His love for cooking will live on through family and friends. If he was hard on you or said something or did something that you didn’t agree with it was out of love. Everything he said, did, argued, nagged about was done out of love for his family and friends. Bill and his wife Lynne wintered in North Port Florida together. While in FL he settled into a great community where he lived an active life. He loved playing shuffleboard, bowling, tooling around in his golf cart, and sharing his talents with others in the community. His favorite game was beanbag baseball that was more about laughs and friendships. He leaves behind a legacy of love and cherished memories for his surving family, his wife Lynne, son Tom (Melanie) Totten, son Spencer (Laura) Nunn, daughter Heather (Scott) Lacy, and daughter Kim. He was a Proud “Papa” to his Grandchildren; Jessica (Brad) Sturges-Dawson, Danny Hodges, Autumn (Brad) Pringle, Austin Bowron, Jacob Totten, Darby Lacy, Wylie (Emma) Nunn, Tommy Totten, Chryssa Norton, Shellby Dreffs, Maranda Dreffs, Sierra Nunn, Adin Lacy, Sylus Nunn, Kendall Walls, Connor Lacy, Will Norton and Ethan Lacy. And by his Great Grandchildren Isabelle, Amelia, Jordan, Samantha, Avery and Noah. Also surviving siblings Bonnie (Chuck) Kraft, Ray (Cindy) Totten, Debbie (Ken) Saari. Bill was preceded in death by his father Richard Totten, step mom Joyce Totten, his birth mom Virginia and great grandchildren Oliver and Serenity. There was a “Celebration of His Life”, on Tuesday February 4, 2025 at New Day Christian Church Northport, FL, message was done by Pastor Rusty Russell. A Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, February 21, 2025, at Noon from the Gaylord E-Free Church, Message by Pastor Scott Distler. The family will begin receiving guests at 11:00 a.m. until the time of service. A luncheon will follow at the Gaylord Eagles Hall, where memories and stories of Bill can be shared. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Hospice of Michigan for one of the following funds, Children’s Bereavement Network (CBN) Program or Open Access, Gaylord Region, envelopes will be a service or by mail at 830 S. Otsego Ave., Gaylord, MI 49735 Till we meet again……

William Russell Totten

June 4, 1950 - January 31, 2025