Gordon was born in Morley, Michigan and raised in Howard City, Michigan. With plans to follow in his father's footsteps as a banker- Gordon studied Business Economics and received a degree from Michigan State University in 1956. Following graduation, he served the U.S. army for two years first at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri and then as a prison guard at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. It was at this time that Gordon met his wife-to-be, a Kansas University Jayhawk cheerleader, Patience Allen. The two wed and then returned to his home state of Michigan.
Next Gordon began his career in banking, a field in which he excelled. This chapter of life began in 1958 when he started as a teller for the Union Bank in Grand Rapids. His hard work was rewarded with a promotion to loan officer. His next moves were to Greenville, Michigan where he was made Vice President and then to Bloomington, Indiana to work as both Vice President and Chief Loan Officer.
In 1969 he took the next big step when he moved his family back to Michigan and started the First State Bank of Saginaw as both President and CEO. After merging with the National Bank of Detroit, he helped grow their territory by heading up multiple mergers and acquisitions throughout the Lower Peninsula. It was at this point that he uprooted from Saginaw and moved to the Detroit area to work as Vice President of Regional Banking for NBD.
Gordon's value here was quickly recognized and he was promoted again – this time to Executive Vice President in charge of all Operations and Systems and was named Chief Officer of the Tech Center for the National Bank of Detroit He remained there until his retirement in 1997.
As a result of many decades of hard work, and God's many blessings, Gordon and Patience spent summers in Michigan enjoying membership at Saginaw and Birmingham Country Clubs and winters avoiding the snow on beautiful Skidaway Island in Savannah, Georgia.
Gordon's passion was as apparent in family life as it was in business. His children fondly remember his active role in their upbringing. Gordon could often be found standing poolside, cheering and officiating his children's swim meets, pulling water skiers around many loops and turtle hunting on Big White Fish Lake. The grandchildren fondly recall his presence at their various sporting and life events. They enjoyed countless golf cart rides and "alligator hunts" at his Skidaway Island home and helping their grandpa cheer for the Spartans on Michigan State game days. Gordon and Patience celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary surrounded by children and grandchildren on the beaches of Maui, Hawaii in 2008.
Gordon was a passionate father, grandfather, husband, son and brother who enjoyed life to the fullest. He was greatly loved and will be greatly missed by all who had the privilege to know him.
Beloved husband of Patience A. (nee Allen). Dear father of Curtis A. (Heidi), Carleton S. (Mindy), Catherine L. and the late Karen C. Herron. Grandfather of Casey, Karley, Kirby, William, Michael, Ian, Jordan, Collin, Sydney, Tristan, Karen, Darby, Mitchell and Alaina. Brother of Kathleen Bottum and the late William Chester and Jacque. Also survived by many nieces and nephews.
Family appreciates the loving care of Arden Courts of Bingham Farms.
Funeral Service Saturday, 1:00p.m. at A.J. Desmond & Sons (Vasu, Rodgers & Connell Chapel), 32515 Woodward (btwn 13-14 Mile). Visitation begins at the funeral home at 12 noon.
Family will receive friends Friday 3-8p.m.
Family suggests memorial tributes to Michigan Humane Society.
Next Gordon began his career in banking, a field in which he excelled. This chapter of life began in 1958 when he started as a teller for the Union Bank in Grand Rapids. His hard work was rewarded with a promotion to loan officer. His next moves were to Greenville, Michigan where he was made Vice President and then to Bloomington, Indiana to work as both Vice President and Chief Loan Officer.
In 1969 he took the next big step when he moved his family back to Michigan and started the First State Bank of Saginaw as both President and CEO. After merging with the National Bank of Detroit, he helped grow their territory by heading up multiple mergers and acquisitions throughout the Lower Peninsula. It was at this point that he uprooted from Saginaw and moved to the Detroit area to work as Vice President of Regional Banking for NBD.
Gordon's value here was quickly recognized and he was promoted again – this time to Executive Vice President in charge of all Operations and Systems and was named Chief Officer of the Tech Center for the National Bank of Detroit He remained there until his retirement in 1997.
As a result of many decades of hard work, and God's many blessings, Gordon and Patience spent summers in Michigan enjoying membership at Saginaw and Birmingham Country Clubs and winters avoiding the snow on beautiful Skidaway Island in Savannah, Georgia.
Gordon's passion was as apparent in family life as it was in business. His children fondly remember his active role in their upbringing. Gordon could often be found standing poolside, cheering and officiating his children's swim meets, pulling water skiers around many loops and turtle hunting on Big White Fish Lake. The grandchildren fondly recall his presence at their various sporting and life events. They enjoyed countless golf cart rides and "alligator hunts" at his Skidaway Island home and helping their grandpa cheer for the Spartans on Michigan State game days. Gordon and Patience celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary surrounded by children and grandchildren on the beaches of Maui, Hawaii in 2008.
Gordon was a passionate father, grandfather, husband, son and brother who enjoyed life to the fullest. He was greatly loved and will be greatly missed by all who had the privilege to know him.
Beloved husband of Patience A. (nee Allen). Dear father of Curtis A. (Heidi), Carleton S. (Mindy), Catherine L. and the late Karen C. Herron. Grandfather of Casey, Karley, Kirby, William, Michael, Ian, Jordan, Collin, Sydney, Tristan, Karen, Darby, Mitchell and Alaina. Brother of Kathleen Bottum and the late William Chester and Jacque. Also survived by many nieces and nephews.
Family appreciates the loving care of Arden Courts of Bingham Farms.
Funeral Service Saturday, 1:00p.m. at A.J. Desmond & Sons (Vasu, Rodgers & Connell Chapel), 32515 Woodward (btwn 13-14 Mile). Visitation begins at the funeral home at 12 noon.
Family will receive friends Friday 3-8p.m.
Family suggests memorial tributes to Michigan Humane Society.
Gordon was born in Morley, Michigan and raised in Howard City, Michigan. With plans to follow in his father's footsteps as a banker- Gordon studied Business Economics and received a degree from Michigan State University in 1956. Following graduation, he served the U.S. army for two years first at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri and then as a prison guard at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. It was at this time that Gordon met his wife-to-be, a Kansas University Jayhawk cheerleader, Patience Allen. The two wed and then returned to his home state of Michigan.
Next Gordon began his career in banking, a field in which he excelled. This chapter of life began in 1958 when he started as a teller for the Union Bank in Grand Rapids. His hard work was rewarded with a promotion to loan officer. His next moves were to Greenville, Michigan where he was made Vice President and then to Bloomington, Indiana to work as both Vice President and Chief Loan Officer.
In 1969 he took the next big step when he moved his family back to Michigan and started the First State Bank of Saginaw as both President and CEO. After merging with the National Bank of Detroit, he helped grow their territory by heading up multiple mergers and acquisitions throughout the Lower Peninsula. It was at this point that he uprooted from Saginaw and moved to the Detroit area to work as Vice President of Regional Banking for NBD.
Gordon's value here was quickly recognized and he was promoted again – this time to Executive Vice President in charge of all Operations and Systems and was named Chief Officer of the Tech Center for the National Bank of Detroit He remained there until his retirement in 1997.
As a result of many decades of hard work, and God's many blessings, Gordon and Patience spent summers in Michigan enjoying membership at Saginaw and Birmingham Country Clubs and winters avoiding the snow on beautiful Skidaway Island in Savannah, Georgia.
Gordon's passion was as apparent in family life as it was in business. His children fondly remember his active role in their upbringing. Gordon could often be found standing poolside, cheering and officiating his children's swim meets, pulling water skiers around many loops and turtle hunting on Big White Fish Lake. The grandchildren fondly recall his presence at their various sporting and life events. They enjoyed countless golf cart rides and "alligator hunts" at his Skidaway Island home and helping their grandpa cheer for the Spartans on Michigan State game days. Gordon and Patience celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary surrounded by children and grandchildren on the beaches of Maui, Hawaii in 2008.
Gordon was a passionate father, grandfather, husband, son and brother who enjoyed life to the fullest. He was greatly loved and will be greatly missed by all who had the privilege to know him.
Beloved husband of Patience A. (nee Allen). Dear father of Curtis A. (Heidi), Carleton S. (Mindy), Catherine L. and the late Karen C. Herron. Grandfather of Casey, Karley, Kirby, William, Michael, Ian, Jordan, Collin, Sydney, Tristan, Karen, Darby, Mitchell and Alaina. Brother of Kathleen Bottum and the late William Chester and Jacque. Also survived by many nieces and nephews.
Family appreciates the loving care of Arden Courts of Bingham Farms.
Funeral Service Saturday, 1:00p.m. at A.J. Desmond & Sons (Vasu, Rodgers & Connell Chapel), 32515 Woodward (btwn 13-14 Mile). Visitation begins at the funeral home at 12 noon.
Family will receive friends Friday 3-8p.m.
Family suggests memorial tributes to Michigan Humane Society.
Next Gordon began his career in banking, a field in which he excelled. This chapter of life began in 1958 when he started as a teller for the Union Bank in Grand Rapids. His hard work was rewarded with a promotion to loan officer. His next moves were to Greenville, Michigan where he was made Vice President and then to Bloomington, Indiana to work as both Vice President and Chief Loan Officer.
In 1969 he took the next big step when he moved his family back to Michigan and started the First State Bank of Saginaw as both President and CEO. After merging with the National Bank of Detroit, he helped grow their territory by heading up multiple mergers and acquisitions throughout the Lower Peninsula. It was at this point that he uprooted from Saginaw and moved to the Detroit area to work as Vice President of Regional Banking for NBD.
Gordon's value here was quickly recognized and he was promoted again – this time to Executive Vice President in charge of all Operations and Systems and was named Chief Officer of the Tech Center for the National Bank of Detroit He remained there until his retirement in 1997.
As a result of many decades of hard work, and God's many blessings, Gordon and Patience spent summers in Michigan enjoying membership at Saginaw and Birmingham Country Clubs and winters avoiding the snow on beautiful Skidaway Island in Savannah, Georgia.
Gordon's passion was as apparent in family life as it was in business. His children fondly remember his active role in their upbringing. Gordon could often be found standing poolside, cheering and officiating his children's swim meets, pulling water skiers around many loops and turtle hunting on Big White Fish Lake. The grandchildren fondly recall his presence at their various sporting and life events. They enjoyed countless golf cart rides and "alligator hunts" at his Skidaway Island home and helping their grandpa cheer for the Spartans on Michigan State game days. Gordon and Patience celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary surrounded by children and grandchildren on the beaches of Maui, Hawaii in 2008.
Gordon was a passionate father, grandfather, husband, son and brother who enjoyed life to the fullest. He was greatly loved and will be greatly missed by all who had the privilege to know him.
Beloved husband of Patience A. (nee Allen). Dear father of Curtis A. (Heidi), Carleton S. (Mindy), Catherine L. and the late Karen C. Herron. Grandfather of Casey, Karley, Kirby, William, Michael, Ian, Jordan, Collin, Sydney, Tristan, Karen, Darby, Mitchell and Alaina. Brother of Kathleen Bottum and the late William Chester and Jacque. Also survived by many nieces and nephews.
Family appreciates the loving care of Arden Courts of Bingham Farms.
Funeral Service Saturday, 1:00p.m. at A.J. Desmond & Sons (Vasu, Rodgers & Connell Chapel), 32515 Woodward (btwn 13-14 Mile). Visitation begins at the funeral home at 12 noon.
Family will receive friends Friday 3-8p.m.
Family suggests memorial tributes to Michigan Humane Society.
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