Auto-Wares Group has announced the passing of Freddie Bunting II, who passed away surrounded by family on Aug. 7 after a long, hard-fought battle with melanoma cancer.
Freddie was born on June 7, 1972, in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and was raised in Ada, Michigan. He was given a second chance at life through a bone-marrow transplant in 1984 from Jean Goken at the University of Iowa. Freddie graduated high school from Forest Hills Central and went on to graduate college from Northwood University in Midland, Michigan. Bunting cut the opening ribbon for the Ronald McDonald House in Grand Rapids.
He enjoyed working many years at Auto-Wares Group of Companies in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He was part of the Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity, was a huge University of Michigan football fan and loved attending the Indy 500 every year. Above everything, he was a proud father to his three children, Alex, Evan, and Tessa Bunting. He cherished all of his many friends and impacted everyone he met. Freddie was so full of life and lived it to the fullest.
The Bunting family is mourning the loss of this deeply loved father/son/brother and the special role he played in their family. He was loved, is missed and will always be cherished. Survived by his loving children Alex (16), Evan (16) and Tessa (10), his parents Karen and Fred Bunting and his siblings Robert and Tracie. He fought his cancer with a vengeance to try to have as much time as possible with his children, whom he loves so much.
A memorial service will be held on at 2 p.m. on Aug. 16 in Cascade, Michigan. A Celebration of Life Reception will follow in Grand Rapids.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be made to the Fred A. Bunting II Fund in Melanoma Research to stop the deaths of others from this devastating cancer.
