Ira Junior Sewell, age 83, of Vernon passed away on Wed, Mar 13, 2013 at Memorial Healthcare Center. Funeral services will be 1pm on Mon, Mar 18, 2013 at Watkins Brothers Funeral Homes, Jennings-Lyons Chapel of Owosso with Pastor John Walworth officiating. Family will receive friends on Sat, Mar 16 from 5 to 8pm and Sun, Mar 17, from 2 to 4pm and 6 to 8pm also at the funeral home. Ira was the youngest of nine children born Jan 9, 1930 a son of Ira Joseph and Cynthia (Kimel) Sewell in Burns Township, MI. On Jun 3, 1949 he married Devora Kirby. Ira was always known as a hard worker. As a teen he was a pin setter for the Owosso bowling alley. After attending Owosso schools he joined the US Army and served in Japan as a paratrooper and worked as a guard at Sugamo prison with the 82 airborn, 11th division from Mar of 1947 to Mar or 1949. After the Army, Ira at times worked three jobs to support his family. He retired from General Motors at the Flint Truck and Bus plan in 2006 as a millwright after 56 ½ years. He also worked as a custodian for Vernon Schools and poured steel for Pat Board Foundry.
He was a member of the Vernon Methodist Church. Ira was an avid hunter and loved camping up north during the summer. He liked square dancing and the Durand Locomotion and also ball room dancing.
Ira is survived by his wife, Devora; children, Ira (Bonnie) Sewell, Larry (Carla) Sewell, and Cynthia Nicholes; 13 grandchildren; 16 great grandchildren; 3 great great grandchildren; 4 step grandchildren; 8 step great grandchildren; and 13 step great great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by children, Stephney Canute and Vickey Sewell; 5 brothers, Arthur, Joseph, Ed, Ralph, and a stillborn; 3 sisters, Lulah Langdon, Elsie Thomas, and Beatrice Sewell; mother and father; in laws, Archie and Wanita Kirby; brother in laws, Rolland Kirby and Merritt Nye; sister in law, Joyce Deem; foster mother, Neva Eisner and several nieces and nephews.