Longtime Farmington Business Owner Walter Sundquist Dies

Walter Edgar "Sunny" Sundquist, the benefactor who helped realize the vision of a Farmington community pavilion, died Thursday at his home in northern Michigan. He was 87. 

Long-time owner of Heeney-Sundquist Funeral Home, Mr. Sundquist is perhaps best known around the community for his contribution toward completing the Walter E. Sundquist Farmington Pavilion. Since its grand opening in October of 2005, the pavilion has served as a stage for musical performances, a gathering space for public and private events, and home to the Farmington Farmers and Artisans Market. 

"Walter was a good and generous soul who helped this community in countless ways...most of them quietly and under the radar," said his successor Mark Ziegler. "He was not a fan of recognition, but one who truly returned to the community all of the goodness shown to him for nearly 50 years. He was a gentle force of integrity and kindness that will be a significant loss to the Farmington area. He will be sorely missed by his family, staff and countless friends." 

Mr. Sundquist was born March 16, 1926, in Bark River, MI, to Walter and Mary (Anesi) Sundquist. He served in the U.S. Navy and, in 1950, graduated from Wayne State University’s School of Embalming and Funeral Service. He worked for funeral homes in Detroit and Redford, before coming to Farmington. 

According to an obituary released by the funeral home, "Following the death of Spencer Heeney in 1963, Mrs. Heeney, impressed with Walter’s integrity, hard work ethic, and a bit of charm, sold him Michigan’s oldest, family-owned funeral service provider, established in 1850."

The firm’s business motto, “Formal enough to be respectful, relaxed enough to be comfortable”, was actually captured from a customer acknowledgement thanking Mr. Sundquist for exceptional service, the obituary noted.

His community involvement included Farmington Elks, Knights of Columbus, Farmington Beautification Commission, Keep Michigan Beautiful, and his churches, Our Lady of Sorrows in Farmington and Guardian Angels in Crystal Falls. One of his proudest achievements was being named Farmington’s Citizen of the Year, an award his mother, Mary, earned in her native Crystal Falls decades earlier.    

The family will receive guests at the funeral home on July 15, 3 p.m.-8 p.m., and a funeral service will be held July 16, 11 a.m., at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church, 23615 Power Road, in Farmington. Burial at Evergreen Cemetery, Crystal Falls, will take place July 20, following additional services in northern Michigan. 

Mr. Sundquist is survived by his devoted daughter, Margo Lynn Sundquist of Schaumburg, IL; loving grandchildren, Taylor Walter, Jessica Rose and Matthew Michael; one sister; two brothers; and many additional loving family members from the Sundquist side of his family. Additionally, as the patriarch of the Anesi family, he is survived by first cousins, Shirlee Stacy, Dwaine Brooks, LaDena Schnapper, Joan Greshik, Robert Battye, Richard Battye, Terry Dobrzenski, Timmy Dobrzenski and Jerry Dobrzenski.  

In lieu of flowers, memorial tributes are suggested to the Saint Vincent De Paul Society Diocesan Council of Marquette - Crystal Falls, 136 Superior Avenue, Crystal Falls, MI, 49920, 906-875-4251, stvincentup.org.